Journey to Christmas Past #8

Kelvin Bueckert
3 min readJan 1, 2025

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“I know what you did.” That’s the text that started me on the path to this living room.

Considering the year that was, who would have ever thought I’d end up back here?

In a room with Brenda, her grandmother, and a Christmas tree.

“So, that’s my story.” Brenda pauses. “After we went our separate ways last Christmas, I just didn’t know what to do. I went to a party one night…just like I used to. I shouldn’t have done that. But, when depression strikes, it’s hard to think properly. Anyway, long story short, that’s how I ended up in my condition. I’m not proud of it but…and there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t regret what I did last year….but…”

“Brenda, we both made our choices.” I search my mind for something wise to say, but finding nothing, I proceed anyway. “We were both going to go our own way, after our own dreams. It didn’t exactly all turn out as we’d hoped.” I pause for a moment. “Maybe it’d be better for us both to get back on the same path.”

“But, what about you?” Brenda looks alarmed. “Your dreams came true, you got elected mayor. I’d only drag you down.”

“Can I say something,” the grandmother says as she waves for our attention from her perch on a rocking chair.

“Go ahead,” I say.

“Patrick, you got elected, but you’ve realized that can’t take the pressure of your new position alone, am I right?”

“Yes, I suppose you’re right,” I mutter as I meet Brenda’s gaze.

The grandmother smiles. “And, Brenda, you’ve realized that you don’t have the strength to live life alone. You need to live for something bigger. The sort of big dreams that Patrick comes up with.”

A hue of crimson passes over Brenda’s pale face. “I suppose, but…”

“But what? It seems pretty obvious to me that you two need each other to get through life. What do you think?” The grandmother examines each of us in turn. “Is it time to start over?”

I take a breath. “Brenda, I know you made mistakes this past year. So did I. But, I’m willing to try again if you are.”

Brenda looks doubtful. “Are you sure?”

“Of course I’m sure. We’ve lived so much life together already. We can’t give up on each other now.”

The sound of a clock ticking is all that can be heard for a moment.

“I was hoping you would say that,” Brenda says finally. “But, I didn’t think you’d ever forgive me for what I’ve done.”

I reach for the trembling hand of the woman across from me. “The past is the past. We have a new year before us.”

“Yes, I suppose we do,” Brenda says quietly.

“I know what you did.” That’s the text that the grandmother had sent me to get me out of myself. But, what we did last year doesn’t seem important right now. It’s what we will do in the future that matters.

As we embrace I can see grandmother smiling at us and you know, I have a feeling that it will be a happy new year.

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Kelvin Bueckert
Kelvin Bueckert

Written by Kelvin Bueckert

Lives and writes on the plains of Manitoba, Canada…he is an actor, writer, and has also been known to peddle books on his website…www.kelvinbueckert.com

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