Chapter 1
The 1st of December every year we put the Tree up, Alex heads up to the loft and starts to pass me the various decorations we've collected over the years, a set of silver bells handed down from my grandparents, a small crystal elephant we bought on our honeymoon in Africa last year, I hold it and examine the features, checking for any chips, relivng the memories of the safari, swimming naked in the sea, endless nights of hot sex.. I let out a little sigh and feel something drop on my head.
"Ouch" I say, lifting my hand and rubbing the top of my head, I look down and see a small bauble then I look up to the loft where Alex is looking down at me laughing.
"That was childish," I say, picking up the bauble.
"I've been trying to get your attention for 10 minutes! Where were you?" He climbs down the ladder and brushes himself down, covered in dust from rooting around the loft.
"Sorry," I say, smiling at him. "Just got lost in thought. Did you find everything okay?"
He picks up a bag of decorations and nods "yep it's all here. Are you ready?"
I smile and excitedly clap my hands "yes yes yessss! Let's go. " I grabbed a bag and run down stairs, Alex following behind me laughing, Christmas had always been my favourite time of year, and decorating the tree was the best part.
We walk into the living room and place the boxes down next to the tree.
The Christmas tree we had bought yesterday, we hadn't planned on getting a real tree, we had one that we used every year, but as we were driving past a fresh Christmas Tree sell I saw it, and I needed it. Something drew me to it, it was tall, the perfect amount of business, a beautiful mixture of greens, it was perfect, before I knew it I was driving into the lot and buying it.
I smile, running my fingers over the needles, the smell of pine filling the room, for a second I think I hear something, a moan? No. I'm hearing things.
We spent our day gently wrapping the tree in fairy light and meticulously placing decorations.
When we are done, we stand back and admire our work. I look at Alex and smile. "It's beautiful, best one yet," I say, holding onto him tight.
He nods. "I agree, but I have to go. I'm needed in the office, I won't be home until late, don't wait up Liv!" He kisses my cheek and heads out the door before I can protest, I stare at the door for a moment before sighing and turning my attention back to the tree, Alex had recently met a new intern at work, and they'd been having an affair for months, I accidentally came across messages one day when I was checking my emails on his phone, he didn't know I knew, and I don't know why I didn't tell him, my whole life had been rocked by affairs, my dad left my mum for someone younger, my grandfather did the same, it was an endless cycle of let downs. But Christmas wasn't going to be ruined by my dumb husbands actions, in the new year I'd seek divorce and move out of our shared home, but until then, he wasn't ruining my Christmas.
