John,wasfartoogulliable.

Whenshehadhuggedhim,ithadbeenforthesolepurposeofregainingpossesofherpackof
sigarett,thathehadpreviouslytaken.Shehadobservedhimalldayandsheknew,fromtheshape
ofthepocketofhisjacket,thathehadkeptitthere.Hethoughthertooyoungtosmoke,too
youngtoletherlungsbecorruptedbysucha.pleasure.
Hewassuchasoftheart,thathedidnotsuspectedforonesecond,thatherhugwasmeantfor
somethingelseratherthanalittlebitofcomfortafteranightmare.
Sheslowlywalkeddownthestairsand,turningthedooropen,steppedintothestreets.Thenight
wasquitecalm,itwasn'tparticularycold,justabitofabreeze.Notmanycarswerepassingand
nobodywastakinganightstroll.Shestandedunderthelamp,onecigarettelightinherhand.
Quiteapeacefulnightindeed.
Asshewaslostinthoughts,someofthemregardingthenightmareshehadjusthad,sheheard
stepsapprocing.Herfirstinstict,wastoshiftfromherplaceandgobackindoor,butthesound
thosestepsweremaking,madeherstoptolistentothemmore.
Indeed.
Ashisprofilerosefromtheshadow,sheknewshehaddeducedright.Thosestepswerethoseof
SH.
Comingbackfromtheobituary,arewe?sheasked.
Indeed,Ihadsomeexperimentstoworkon
Ofcoursehehadseenhersmokingbut,asshelikedtoremindhim,himbeingarecoveryaddicted
didn'treallyputhimintheplacetojudgeorscold.
Theystayedlikethatforawhile,withoutsayinganything.
Youmightwanttostepinside,Johnisturningrathermotherly
Whyisthat?
HehasbeensheexplainedMumblingalldayaboutthefactthatyouarestrainingyourselfmore
thaneverlately,thatyoucomingbackhomelate,skippingmealsisn'treallyanhealtything

Youactedquickly,beforehecouldnoticeandbeforeyoucouldregrethisevenmorethatyou
alreadywere.Yourarmslockedaroundhisneck,switlypullinghimdownsoyoucouldplaceakiss
sosmall,thatfeltlikeachildishpeck,onhischeek.
MerryChristmas,Myouwhispered,steppingbackfromhimasfastasyoucould.
Hewasrathersurprised,lookingatyouquestioningly.
Anticipatingwhatyouknewwouldbehisnextremark,youadded:IknowyouhateChristmas,
but...well...
OhGod,youwerepanicking.
Youknewyourselfwellenoughtodetectit,youhadstartedmovingyourhandshazilyinthehair,
lookingeverywherebutdirectelyathim,blushinglikecrazy.
Suchagreatideayouhavehad.Tostormintosomeoneshouse,forciblykissingsomeonewho
wasn'tkneelintophysicalconctactandwishingthathehadanhappyhatedholiday.

IknowyouhateityourepeatedWell,Ihatebirthdays,youcanwishmeanhappybirthdayas
apaybackwhenit'stime.