This short story is about a couple who are having relationship problems. The woman is packing her bags to leave after a fight, but stops when she sees an old text from her partner saying he wants to talk. When her partner comes home, he is hiding a Christmas present for their anniversary trip. They decide to reheat dinner so they can talk things through.

1. a
Christmas
short
story
by
Álvaro
González-­‐Alorda
December
2011
√√

2. y
te
prmeto
q
hoy
si
q
llego
a
cenar!!
11:56
Where
r
u!?
Dinner
is
already
21:33
√√
cold…
I’ve
been
waiBng
for
u
1h…
Sorry…
Coming
now
21:41

3. But
this
time,
instead
of
weeping
in
the
darkness,
she
furiously
started
to
pick
up
her
things.
It
didn’t
take
long.
A
large
piece
of
luggage
and
two
cardboard
boxes
were
enough
to
pack
her
part
of
the
trip
that
—
just
a
year
ago—
they
had
started
together,
surrounded
by
their
family
and
friends.

4. When
she
Ainished,
she
sat
down
to
write
her
last
message.
She
has
been
thinking
about
it
for
weeks
and,
Ainally,
she
went
for
a
short
version:
U
make
me
feel
I’ve
been
wasBng
my
love
with
u…
I
can’t
stand
it
anymore…
I’m
leaving.
Send

5. Just
before
sending
it,
she
slipped
her
Ainger
across
the
screen
and
saw
some
messages
from
the
last
days
and,
above,
messages
from
the
last
weeks...
Suddenly,
she
stopped
at
one
he
had
sent
her
months
ago:
Sorry…
I’m
very
clmsy
with
the
keyboard.
I
need
to
talk
to
you.
19:21

6. A
key
opened
the
door
silently.
—Why
are
you
sitting
there?,
—he
asked
trying
to
hide
with
his
coat
a
big
parcel
he
was
carrying
in
a
bag
with
Christmas
decorations.
—What’s
that!?,
—she
replied.

7. —Mmm…
I
think
I’ve
screwed
it
up
again...
This
piece
of
luggage
was
for
our
anniversary
surprise
trip
to…
—Stop
it!
Stop
it
before
you
deAinitely
screw
it
up,
—she
said,
interrupting
him
with
a
kiss.
And
holding
his
arm
she
said:
—Will
you
help
me
to
reheat
dinner?
I
need
to
talk
to
you.

8. I
wish
you
inspiring
Christmas
conversaBons
with
your
family
and
friends.
thetalkingmanager.com