She wiggles her shoulders to the beat of the corny Christmas tune as she hums the words under her breath. A strange, uneven banging echoes through her door. She steps over and through the carnage of half-opened newly purchased Christmas decorations and pulls the door open. Smells of coffee and cold fresh air rush inside as Sarah stands on the other side with both of her arms outstretched, a takeaway, Christmas-themed coffee cup in each hand. A short, narrow box balances on top of her arms.

‘I couldn’t knock so I had to swing my handbag until it hit the door,’ she explains, her voice muffled behind the box. Josie gently takes the box off her arms and Sarah bends her elbows in relief.

‘A fiver is all it cost,’ she says as she barges into the apartment. Josie follows, kicking the door closed behind her and setting the box down. She immediately starts opening it as Sophie unwraps herself from her many layers.

‘It’s so cute,’ Josie exclaims as she steps back to admire the small green plastic tree that, when set on the coffee table, is the same height as her. Sarah comes to stand beside her to admire the first Christmas tree they’ve bought themselves in their first Christmas away from home. She hands her a coffee cup, and they take a sip at the same time.

They set to work, singing along to their Christmas playlist and bopping around the room until it darkens with the sky outside. They slip red and green baubles of varying sizes and sparkles on the branches.

As Sarah braids multi-coloured lights and gold tinsel through the gaps, Josie takes a step back. Her eyes glaze over with tears, blurring the colours of the lights into one. Tree-decorating was a huge event back home. Her whole family would bundle into Dad’s car to the tree farm and pick their favourite; always smaller and slightly dumpier than the rest. They’d tie it to the roof and speed home, stopping only for hot chocolates. They would put on old Christmas CDs, wear cheesy jumpers and spend the evening making their real tree look bright and ridiculously festive. Everything felt cosy and snug and safe in that simple moment.

Josie’s heart swells as a wave of homesickness crashes over her. Sarah notices and hops up beside her friend, wrapping an arm around her. They both knew this Christmas was going to be hard. Neither of them had ever been away from their family for Christmas before and now they were half a world away. They just didn’t think they’d feel this nostalgic. Sarah wraps an arm around her friend.

‘I know it’s not the same as home, but I think we’ve done a pretty good job,’ Sarah whispers. Josie smiles a watery smile, nodding her head. She wraps her free arm around Sarah and squeezes her tightly.

‘Did you pick up a star for the top of it?’ Josie asks. Sarah pauses.

‘Aw shit.’

©Copyright ruthwrites.ie 2022