It is Christmas!

Sun light, beautiful sky and snow was painting our neighborhood. I never saw life breathing
stronger. I was in my room, I woke up involved in my routine, my father screamed “Hey! come
down, I made pancakes” and I answered “Ok!”, I forgot it, we’re on holidays!

– At least you’re here!

– Ha, ha, sorry dad I was styling my hair before, I didn’t want to put it on the pancakes. where’s
mom?
– Ok, your mom is in the bathroom taking a shower first, I wanna eat , this wait is killing me,
I’m hungry, why you both are not like me, wake up and eat, well I don’t wanna start without
your mom.
– Yes, ha, ha, ha, hey! she is coming,
– Oh, Marjorie my love! at least.
– I didn’t know you were waiting for me.
– No matter, let’s enjoy this delicious breakfast, and we have christmas presents!..

We start in the end, yes, you get the reason but it’s because the beginning of this story isn't as
funny as that last. I’m ALya Creem, an art’s history student who usually wastes her time writing
thoughts and watching documentaries, cartoons too but that’s not the point. My family is not big.
Our life is simple, at least since my dog died, he was a whirlwind, we miss him so much.

I started university in 2017 after graduating from high school, my friends chose other ways, I
was alone to discover the big world outside, I wasn’t sad I always enjoyed my own company but
later I discovered this road wasn’t like I thought it would be.

It was my third semester when everything fell down in my face, my grades weren’t enough for a
scholarship, and I needed it, my mother was sick in another country and I couldn’t do anything,
my dad tried to seem like everything’s ok, however, I knew the truth. We didn’t have money to
support this. I decided to leave university in 2018 although my father didn't agree. I got out of
Dakota North University’s administration office in september 5 with a suitcase and a brown
jersey before surprising my dad at home.

– Dad? Are you there?

– Alya! OMG What are you doing here honey? You should be in Dakota.
– No more dad, no more.
– What are you talking about?
– I left university, I’m gonna work and help you with mom.
– No! Will you do what? You can’t, you will study, I’m ok, your mom is ok, and we aren't going
to let you do that!
– Dad! I did it, I made my decision please respect it.
– But How can I do it? you’re my daughter, you're going to run for your dreams and let me
resolve our problems, ok? who do you think am I? this is-
– Henry Stop! you could be my father but I won’t do that, I’m not a child, I know what is
happening, are you waiting for me to just sit down and watch how you and mom lost your life ?
absolutely not! including I’m not the best student in the world you should know, I can’t receive a
scholarship, how we would pay for university.
– I shouldn’t tell you about your mom, this is not the way.
– It’s ok, I’m here, things happened, we can’t control it, when mom recovers her health I'll go
back to university, it is not over, I promise.

I could hear my dad’s heart while we hug each other, it sounded strong and felt painful, since my
mother got sick of tuberculosis he fights to be ok with himself, she’s in spain because he couldn’t
find a better job to pay bills while in the other hand she fund a very good job there but now she’s
fighting with that disease alone so far of us and we don’t know if the company will take her
back, he feels guilty. I can’t just look.

The next day I started to look for a job, I couldn’t find it easily but now thanks to an old friend I
have it and it’s not bad, I’m working as an assistant in a little lumber company here in Colorado,
this is my first day, I hope to do it well.

– Hello, good morning. I’m Alya the new assistant, mmm–

– Alya! hello my name is John, I’m the production manager, you’re going to work with me,
coming I was waiting for you.
– Thank you. I hope not so much, ha, ha, ha I would hate to be late on my first day.
– Oh, don’t worry I’m just earlier, for now I have to do something in the office but here is Miss
Nathalie Carpenter, she is gonna help you to know a little bit about the company and show your
work, I see you later.
– Ok!
– Nice to meet you.
– It’s a pleasure to meet you too. My name is Alya.
– Yes, follow me, look in left is a corridor that come to outside of this comfortable air
conditioner where is the heavy machinery, you will go for there sometimes, right for here… yes
we arrive this is accounting department, there’s Camila, Angel and Isabel, you don’t need to
know them, turn into the right are bathrooms, let’s continue, here is the production department
this little cubicle is yours, you will help to Jhon with the control of production, it is how many
we are killing trees and made then human stuffs basically. Oh, and the last door you can see is
for cleaning stuff. So your computer, the telephone, you will need it, and behind you is John your
direct boss.
– Thank you, Nathalie, that was helpful.
– You’re welcome, all principal data is in the computer, oh here you come John..
– Yes, I see Alya come to the nest, welcome!
– Ok, he is gonna show you what I missed.
– Good, well Alya come here, your first task is this go to…

Everything was going well, this job step by step was turning I little bit interesting, I proposed
John to add a handicrafts department to sell art made it with scrap wood from machines and I
helped a friend to get that job, it was amazing, in 4 month my mom was better and she could
comeback, unfortunately the spanish company would pay only the return ticket to USA but at
least she would be here.

It was december 15 and I got my christmas holidays and a little bonus for my idea of the
handicrafts, my dad and I were happy to see mom again, we could pay the medical expenses. Our
dear blond would be in Denver for christmas!

– Daddy? Hey I’m in garage.

– Hello, what are you doing?
– Working? can’t you see?
– Oh, my dear hero, well I let you finish it while I eat this sweet…
– Wait, what are we celebrating?
– Ha, ha, just the last, medical receipt!
– Really? coming honey show me! Yes!

We ended up crying together that day, this last 5 month had been stressful and sometimes we
even didn’t know how to make it work. I had tried to keep in contact with my classmates and
don’t fall behind with the university degree. I’m not always in a good mood, and I’m not the type
of girl that can see the glass half full, but this time, I had to change my mind a little bit, and
thanks to that I could support my family and enjoy this christmas. We picked up mom at the
airport and the rest was magical.

Sometimes you feel you want to kill yourself, it’s funny to see two part of you fighting for it,
one have a great view point of life, wants to live it, wants to breath and love. but the other part is
taking all the pain and making it yours, is angry and hate all, sings stronger melodies, screams till
just fall down. It’s essential to remember that both have reasons, life is complicated and beautiful
at the same time, This is another chapter in my life to have in memory, family for me it’s the
most important in life. What is it for you? Merry Christmas.