Page 12 of A Cursed Noel

My eyes burn, not justin anticipation of seeing Dad, but who I won’t see for a long,longtime.

Gemini. He was mypatience when I had none to give. Another brain to help me strategizeand reason through the unreasonable. He didn’t speak a word ofEnglish when we met, but he always knew how to be the perfect friend.

Koda. He thinks he’sa burden. He doesn’t yet see the hero within. He always had myback. Except when I was wrong. When I messed up, he was honest,holding me to a higher standard than I deserved.

Liam. No filter.Brutally honest. All heart. All he ever wanted was to have fun andmaybe change the world for the better. He changed my world just bybeing a part of my life.

My friends. Will theyforgive me for wronging them? I hope so. They deserved much more thanI was.

The light brightens,threatening to burn through my retinas. I close them tight. I’malmost there. It’s almost time.

Torment. Why do I feelit when my father is so close?

So, what if I neverbecame the alpha my kind expected?

So, what if I didn’tlead my pack as Guardians of the Earth?

Does it matter that Ididn’t pass on my knowledge and skills?

No. There’ll beothers.

I killed those whoneeded killing.

I avenged my father’sdeath.

And now, I shall walkbeside him forever.

I don’t a need awife.

I don’t need to carryon the Connor name.

I just need to comehome.

A cold breeze sweepsover my face and the intensity of the light lessens, revealing only asparkling white beauty below.

I’m here, Papa.I’m home.

I slam face first intoa mound of frozen snow, shattering my nose.

I cough, spitting outsand, salt, and snow. “What the hell?”

The sudden cacophony ofnoise overwhelms my senses. I push up on my arms, growling andcursing Mimi for all she’s worth. Nope, I’m not joining Dad. Thathag has other plans.

The small bones in mynose slide back into place with a snap along with my fractured knee.It hurts. The cold from the pile of snow I’m half-buried in addinganother layer of ache.

With more grace than Ilanded, I scramble out, taking a moment to wash the blood from mymouth and face with fresh snow.

Cars speed past me,blasting their speakers. Metallica’sSeek and Destroycompetes with Springsteen’sCadillac Ranchand…Rudolphthe Red Nose Reindeer?

Spring just started.What’s up with the Christmas music?

I look up. An arc ofred and green lights flash against Santa as he waves from his plasticsleigh.

Is this a joke? Am I inhell?

I swipe at my face withthe back of my hand. All that does is smear more blood across mycheek. My skin burns from my colossal landing, and I shiver from theabrupt change in temperature.

Colorado was maybethirty or so degrees. Here, wherever here is, borders close to zero.

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