perfectly simple
Oct 27, 2020
3 minutes
BY PATRICIA RIDDLE-GADDIS, ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA
ILLUSTRATION BY DÀLIA ADILLON
MOM AND I pulled our artificial Christmas tree out of the box together, the silver pine branches bending into shape—a popular look back in 1970. “I hope the lights all work,” Mom said. As if the tree itself wasn’t shiny enough.
I shrugged. The truth was I didn’t care if we even had a tree when I woke up tomorrow. It was our first Christmas without my father. My heart was too heavy to enjoy anything.
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