Chapter 8
“Marco! I’m here! Is this your girlfriend?”
Hearing Marco’s sister’s voice not afar, I blushed immediately.
“Come on, Christine! This is my friend from the university, Grace Parrish. She’s spending Christmas with us.
“Alright, whatever you say.
“Hello, Grace! I happen to bring back some gifts.”
What a loving family. Unfortunately, I didn’t have one.
We arrived at the yard of the Heath’s place. Their home was not big, but it
was cozy.
An old lady was welcoming us at the door. She walked over and greeted. us when we were still far away.
“Marco, is this your friend?”
The old lady grabbed my hand and led me into their home.
“What a sweet girl! Marco, I’m proud of you.”
I felt my ears burning hot for some reason.
“Grandma, this is my friend from the university, Grace Parrish.”
“Please sit. I will prepare dinner for you.”
It started snowing.
Chapter 8
Marco was cleaning up the guest room. His sister came to talk to me.
“My name is Christine Heath. Did Marco treat you well at school? If he didn’t, just tell me. I will teach him a lesson.”
“Yes, yes. Marco treats me very well.”
I enjoyed talking with them.
It felt like I finally had a happy family.
Dinner was ready. The four of us sat around the table.
Marco’s grandma put a lot of food onto my plate.
“Grace, from today on, we’re family. Whenever you want to come, we welcome you.”
What a warm and genuine promise.
After dinner, Marco took me for a walk in the square.
At Christmas, the square was fully decorated.
Many young couples were hugging under the fountain. Old people were dancing in the square.
I had never noticed these moments of happiness around me. I was wasting my time.
It was still snowing. Marco wiped away the snowflakes on my head.
“Thank you, Marco.”
“For what?”
Chapter 8
“I haven’t been so relaxed for a long time.”
Marco didn’t ask more but patted my shoulder.
“How do you plan to show your gratitude?”
“I’ll bow to you.
We talked and laughed.
“If you really want to thank me, you can be my girlfriend.”
“Then I choose to live on the street tonight,”
“Fine. You pick a way to thank me.”
17
“What about I cook for you? Tomorrow, you’ll see what a good chef I am.”
“Are you going to poison me?”
“Yes, I am. Will you still eat?”
“I don’t mind dying with you.”
Marco’s smile was so bright. I had never seen him so relaxed.
“You can cook for me every day.”
“And poison you every day.”
The casual talk gradually became a promise. We both went silent.
But we were holding hands.
“Let’s go. The snow gets heavier.”
“OK.”
#
Marco patted my head.
“I bet Grandma has made some hot tea.”
But what his grandma had prepared was some ginger soup.
After I drank the hot ginger soup, the coldness left me right away.
The light was dim. The ginger soup was delicious. The old lady was kind.
What a wonderful night.
I had really moved on from the past and started to live my own life.
Outside, fireworks exploded in the sky.
“Merry Christmas, Marco.”
“Merry Christmas.”
