An Aurora Skies Christmas Romance Tale

@lanlyn Thanks for the sweet comments again. <3
It's funny you should mention the Prepaid Phone because that was something that instantly hit me when I was typing that I needed to make sure was accurate. He's poor...so having a cell phone "Plan" wouldn't be realistic. So Prepaid it was. 😜 And...I would imagine he has the kind of prepaid where it can't be traced. ;)
But yeah, I love how you notice the little details I've thrown in. 😏 It must be something we notice as fellow writers. 😘

I don't like slapstick humor either... (The Three Stooges...oh gosh kill me! 🙄 )
The only thing Jim Carrey I like is "Dumb and Dumber." 😆 And Bruce Almighty, but everything else...just...no. 😬

Here's the next chapter for you. :blush: (And any others who may be reading. ;) )

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Chapter 3

December 8th

Miriam (and Ciro) had just returned from visiting with Mr. Hodge and she was so filled with joy that she couldn't keep herself still. She squealed, her hands clasped and raised to her breast, as Ciro began closing the door behind them.

"Oh Ciro!" she happily cried. "Did you see him actually accept my gift this time around? I mean, he totally almost smiled!"
Ciro cracked one himself, trying to share her same enthusiasm. "No...it's kinda hard to see from my distance, but yeah...," he faced her, "that's wonderful Miriam. You're magic is working."
She blushed. "Well, I was just following my heart. I mean gosh," she breathed, placing her hand upon her chest. "My heart feels so full. I don't think I've ever felt this happy in a LONG time Ciro! It's just...such a great feeling to know I'm helping someone like this." She gazed into his eyes. "Helping someone find the light in their life again you know?"
"Yeah..."
"I say we should have some of our friends over tonight! Call it a little celebration!" she declared. "What do you think?"

Ciro shrugged, not feeling like there was a whole lot to celebrate, but, "Yeah. That sounds like a good idea." I guess...

****

Miriam, her roommates, and a few of their friends all got together at 5pm, eating pizza for dinner in front of the cozy fire while listening to various Christmas tunes in the background.

After dinner, Miriam and Ciro had a moment while chatting together where they both decided within themselves that tonight...they were going to share their true feelings for each other.



Ciro couldn't wait! He'd anticipated this moment for years and finally mustered up the strength to do it. He didn't want to miss out on a perfect moment either, like he did the other day.

One could only imagine his enthusiasm when a few of their friends started casually sharing kisses under the mistletoe and Miriam invited him to come join her underneath.
He tried to hide his burning, blushing cheeks as he approached her.



This wasn't exactly how he planned their first kiss to be, but who was he to complain?

"I feel a little silly doing this," he expressed to Miriam. He always thought the kissing under the mistletoe thing was super silly and cliché.
She chuckled. "Oh it's cute! Now c'mon...humor me for a bit." She winked.
Alright. "With pleasure."



Miriam took his arm, and he hers, each gently pulling the other in for a tender, very first kiss together.



They both grinned brightly at each other after the kiss ended, while resting their forehead's against the other's giggling.

Ciro had every intention of leaning in and kissing her again, but Miriam stepped back a little and said, "Sorry. I, uh, hope you'll excuse me Ciro, I...I need to step into the bathroom. I'll be right back." As he watched her go he hoped that meant she actually had to go and not that she was avoiding him.

When Miriam exited the bathroom she was approached by a few of her friends who started asking her about her recent visits with "Scrooge McHodge." It turned into a long conversation and while waiting for her Ciro somehow got sucked into playing a board game with Pedro, Angelica, and one of their close friends.

As the evening came to a close, the friends chatting with Miriam told her goodbye, and to the others, as they headed out the door for home. Miriam joined the other four in their board game and once it ended, the last friend bid them goodbye and Pedro and Angelica informed they were tired and headed upstairs to bed.

Finally it was just Miriam and Ciro alone in the room, with the Christmas tree as a sparkling backdrop, and as the clock was about to strike midnight.

"This was a really fun evening," Ciro spoke.
"Yeah," Miriam concurred. "It was."



"I take it you're ready for bed too?" he asked, hoping not.
"Not exactly," she replied, as she got up from the couch to join Ciro on his. "Look Ciro I'm," she started, growing nervous, "I'm sorry I took off like that...after our kiss."
Ciro nodded. "It's ok..."
"And...about that kiss..."
"Yes, let's talk about that kiss," he expressed anxiously.



Miriam inched in closer beside him. "It was wonderful," she breathed, gazing deeply into his eyes, with the deepest of sincerity written upon them.
Ciro gazed lovingly back into them. "Was it?" he playfully asked, putting his arm around her. "Because...I think I need a reminder." And with that he pulled her in for another deep, yet tender, kiss.

"Ciro..." Miriam whispered between breaths.
"Miriam," he whispered in return, as he leaned her back a bit, pressing his lips harder upon hers and gently starting to pull down the sleeve of her shirt with his other hand.

"Ciro," Miriam addressed louder this time, causing him to pull back as she slid her shirt sleeve back up. "We," she corrected, "there's something...I need to tell you."
Ciro felt his heart sink for a bit as he sat up fully now. "What is it?" he gently asked.

"Oh G*d," she expressed, burying her face into her hands. "I don't know what's wrong Ciro. I don't understand it."
"Don't understand what?" he hated to encourage.
"You are this amazing guy!" she said, gazing back at him now. "Always so sweet and the most wonderful friend, and I've wanted us to be together. I've wanted it for a long time."
"Me too."
"But...when I made the decision to ask you for a kiss under the mistletoe, which please don't feel like I was using you for an experiment, I was just...hoping the kiss would help confirm my feelings for you. You know? Be the kiss to seal the deal."
Ciro looked down at his hands now. "And...it didn't?"
Miriam frowned. "No," she sadly replied. "Like I said...I just don't understand it."
"So when we kissed just now," Ciro said, glancing back at her, "did you feel the spark? The confirmation? Because I sure did."
"I know," Miriam whispered, shaking her head and trying to hold back tears. "But I didn't. I am SO sorry Ciro!" She hated witnessing the disappointed look upon his face.

"I guess," she continued, "you're just too much of a good friend to me that...it just doesn't feel right to take it to the next level because if our relationship were to not work out I'd feel like I'd lose your friendship forever and honestly Ciro," she held her hand to her aching heart, "I would die if that ever happened!"
"What makes you think our relationship would not work out?"
"Ciro...it's taken us two years to finally start pursuing the idea," she paused. "Don't you think if we were really meant to be together, we would've known long before now? And acted upon it?"
Ciro released a big sigh. "I guess it's my fault then. If I hadn't been so nervous to ask you out earlier than maybe we'd be..." he stopped, unable to finish.
"Aww, come here," Miriam beckoned, putting her arm around him and pulling him in for a snuggle. "Don't blame yourself. I was nervous to ask you out too. I guess," she sighed, "we were just always meant to be really good friends instead of being in a relationship."
"I guess so," he said, still gazing into her beautiful eyes with a longing expression. "But it sure felt nice to explore the next step with you...even just for a little bit."
"Yeah," she smiled. "It did...



...but when you started pulling down my sleeve I was like, 'Oh my gosh Ciro is trying to make love to me,'" she chuckled, "and...it made me feel a little uncomfortable."
Ciro looked down with a cracked smile.
"I don't mean that offensively!" Miriam assured. "It's just...it's like what we talked about, you're my best friend and it felt a little weird to go there..."
"I understand," he said. "And honestly, as much as I wanted to, and boy did I really want to!" They both chuckled. "I was feeling nervous as heck," he continued, "like I wouldn't measure up to your expectations or something."

Miriam gazed upon him with a look of love again. "I'm sure you would've measured up," she said to comfort, "it just...isn't meant to be."
"Yeeeah," he really hated to say.
"So," she deeply sighed, "are we ok? You'll still always be my best friend forever?"
Figuring they'd have to be and because he respected her feelings, Ciro replied sincerely, "Yeah. We're ok. And of course I'll be your best friend forever."

Miriam smiled in relief as they then cuddled in silence for a bit.

"So...should we head up to bed now?" Ciro asked, breaking it.
"No," she whispered. "Let's just stay like this...for a few more minutes."
"Okay," he agreed.



"You know I love you too right?" Miriam almost forgot to tell him.
"Yes. I do."

****

December 12th

The past four days went by pleasurably for Miriam when visiting Mr. Hodge, although a twinge of heartbreak was still shared between her and Ciro. Nevertheless they carried on like the best friends they've always been and he continued to keep a watchful eye on her as she visited daily with the ever bitter man, who surprisingly...was turning more into a decent man throughout each day inching closer to Christmas.

In fact the townsfolk began noticing less of "Scrooge McHodge's" negative feelings about Christmas whenever he made an appearance in town and that was a miracle in and of itself.

One afternoon as he stepped into the grocery store just as a woman was going out, he took notice of her bug eyed look towards him; as if she were surprised to see him.
"Yes! I'm still around!" he said with a little less gruff then he normally would.
"I didn't say anything!" the woman muttered as she looked away and kept on walking.



Miriam's daily conversations with Mr. Hodge grew longer, to her excitement, as he was really starting to open up to her a little. Honestly, for him, it was beginning to feel quite nice talking one and one with someone again.

He talked about how life wasn't always easy living in a run down, abandoned warehouse. How he had to repair it from the ground up the best he cold, having very little money, but thankfully being blessed with the gift of handiness.



He talked about his intense poverty...how his job as the night shift graveyard grounds keeper was barely paying the utility bills...



Electricity became too much so he switched to only lighting his home with candles for about three years. Then when he found an easy to fix flat screen TV at the dump, he went back to having electricity again. He longed to watch TV again...anything his satellite antenna would pick up. It was a modern amenity he'd missed greatly and was definitely worth the cost - even if it meant hunting for food instead of buying groceries and selling the pelts.

His story about finding and fixing up the TV reminded Miriam that it wasn't a rare sight to see him dumpster diving around town in the past...





One thing Mr. Hodge mentioned that made Miriam chuckle was him calling laundry the most detestable chore out of them all...(and he had many!) especially when trying to run his clothes through the world's cra'pp'iest washing machine...



...and then forgetting to bring the clothes in from hanging out to dry on the line before the rain or snow started falling.



Her heart especially went out to him as he talked about spending TEN winters in his run down warehouse home...





...and how some years it was so bitter cold that the single fireplace wasn't enough to heat every area of the ground floor that he needed it to.



So often he had to spend the night sleeping on the cold, hard floor, instead of in his bed; in front of the fire, to keep himself from freezing to death.



How no one ever noticed this man's poverty and reached out to him in all these years is beyond me, Miriam thought. She'd be the first to admit that SHE certainly could've reached out to him sooner and she also knew of plenty of other good and caring people in town who should have as well, but then again...Mr. Hodge didn't exactly allow anyone in to help.

On the days leading up to today Miriam was very happy to learn all of these things about Mr. Hodge and his life, but it disappointed her that he still hadn't revealed how he ended up in the warehouse, alone, and why he hates Christmas so much. Perhaps it wouldn't matter anymore if his heart was really beginning to change, but...she couldn't help thinking how he wouldn't fully be able to change and heal if he didn't talk about it. She had a sneaking suspicion that he never talked to anyone about what caused the hatred...and that's why he was so full of pain, anger, and resentment. There is still time, she thought in conclusion. I'll casually ask him about it when the moment feels right. She could only hope that moment would present itself before Christmas.

But for now things were beginning to look up, miraculously, and she didn't want to rush inquiring into his personal life for fear of pushing him away just as he's barely started to open up to someone since a decade's time.

The ice was still thin and she had to continually tread lightly. However, she HAD to help Mr. Hodge have a happier, wonderful, and memorable Christmas this year. He needed that...more than anyone else in the world it seemed.


*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


😊