“Don’t think ill of me, dear. Im not a vagrant. My name is Michael Simmons. I came to see my daughter. It’s hard to explain”
Only a few hours remained until New Years Eve. All the colleagues had long since hurried home, but no one was waiting for Emily
To avoid going into work on the second of January, shed decided to finish her tasks ahead of time.
At home, she had everything readya couple of salads, fruit, and a bottle of sparkling wine waiting in the fridge, prepared in advance.
There was no one to dress up for. All she wanted was to kick off her heels and slip into her soft pyjamas.
It just so happened that she and Andrew had divorced a few months back, and the split had been so painful that Emily hadnt rushed to start anything new.
Now, she was comfortable alone
Andrew had tried to win her back, ringing a few times, but Emily didnt want to begin againnothing good would come of it. They werent right for each other, it was all too complicated.
She didnt even want to think about him anymore, that was the past. Why ruin the holiday?
Emily stepped off the bus. Just a few more steps and shed be home.
By the entrance, on a bench, she suddenly noticed an elderly man. Beside him stood a small Christmas tree.
“Must be visiting someone,” she thought.
Emily greeted him, and the man nodded without raising his eyes.
Something glinted in his gazetears, or perhaps just the reflection of the streetlights. She didnt dwell on it and hurried inside.
The evening had turned frosty, and Emily shivered.
After a shower, she pulled on her favourite fluffy pyjamas, poured herself a coffee, and went to the window.
Oddly, the man was still sitting on the bench.
“More than an hour has passed since I got home. Its two hours to midnightif hes visiting someone, why is he still outside? And that gleam in his eyes!” she wondered.
She set the table, switched on the fairy lights on her own tree, but her thoughts kept drifting back to the lonely old man.
Half an hour later, she peeked out again. He hadnt moved.
“Maybe hes unwell? Hell freeze out there.”
Emily threw on her coat and stepped outside.
Approaching the bench, she sat beside him.
The man glanced at her and looked away.
“Excuse me, are you alright? I noticed youve been sitting here alone for a while. Its freezing. Can I help?”
The old man sighed.
“Its nothing, love. Im fine. Ill just sit a while longer, then be off.”
“Where to?”
“The station. Ill go home.”
“Thats no good. I dont want to find you still here in the morning. Come on, please! Lets go inside. Warm up, then you can go wherever you need.”
“But”
“No buts! Come on!”
Emily knew if her friend Sophie saw her now, shed gape in disbelief. But Sophie wasnt here, and she couldnt leave the old man outside.
He rose from the bench and reached for the little tree.
“Can I bring it?”
“Of course you can.”
Inside, the old man placed the tree modestly in the hallway, then took off his coat.
Every movement seemed to pain himhe really had been freezing.
He sat at the kitchen table while Emily poured tea. He cradled the mug, warming his hands, then took a few sips before looking up.
“Dont think ill of me, dear. Im not a vagrant. My names Michael Simmons. I came to see my daughter. Its hard to explain”
He and her mother had split long agohis fault. Hed met another woman.
“Fell head over heels, blind to everything”
At first, he hid it. Then his wife, Louise, found out about him and Martha. The rows began, and one day he slammed the door and left for the woman he loved
His daughter had been five.
At first, hed tried to visit, to help, but Louise was too proud. She refused everythingwouldnt even claim child support, determined to prove she could raise their girl alone.
Hed tried sending money through his parents, through her, but she wouldnt have it. Not a penny!
She turned their daughter against him.
Once, outside her school, hed brought toys, but the girl ran off, refusing to speak. “Youre nobody to me,” shed said.
Thats when he gave up. He stopped appearing in her life. He and Martha left town. Hed tried sending money at first, but it always came back.
Eventually, he stopped. He understoodLouise would take nothing from him.
Ten years ago, theyd returned to the city. His parents were gone by then, so they moved into their old flat.
Later, they sold it, bought a cottage in the countryside near town, and settled there.
Children never happened for them
Then, two years ago, Martha passed, and he was alone.
“I dont know why I went to my daughter today. I didnt expect forgiveness.”
He hadnt seen her in decades. She still lived in the same flat.
“I bought this tree came to her door. She wouldnt let me in.”
He understood.
“Why did I go? What did I hope to see? Im a stranger to her. What was I thinking?”
He didnt need anythinghe had his home, a decent pension. He couldve helped her, his only flesh and blood!
“Everything wouldve been different if Louise had let me see her, be part of her life.”
Hed wandered away from his daughters flat, directionless, until he ended up here. Sat on the bench and just froze. Didnt even want to move. Mightve stayed there forever.
“But fate had other plans. Maybe Im still needed for something Thank you, love. Im warm now, Ill go. Wait for the bus, head home.”
“You cant go now! The next bus isnt till morning, and its nearly midnight. Stay. Ill make up the sofayou can leave at first light.”
Michael Simmons looked at her.
“I dont want to impose, dear. Not many would let a stranger in like this. Truth is I dont want to be alone tonight. If its alright, Ill stay. Ill go in the morning.”
“Then its settled.”
At dawn, Michael gathered his things.
“Thank you, Emily. Youre an angel. Saved me from a foolish endI really mightve stayed on that bench forever.”
“You know, you must visit me! Its not farplenty of room, a small apiary out back, five hives. Lovely in summer.”
Martha had loved the garden Apples, pears, all sorts. Even winters nice. Come, dearrest by the river. Its peaceful there.
“Alright, Michael. Ill come.”
“Good! Ill be off then thank you again.”
Emily watched from the window until he disappeared around the corner.
So it goes. Kin wont know you, yet strangers become family.
Emily had lost her parents young. After hearing the old mans sorrowful tale, she decidedshe would visit him. Shed make sure of it.
