Chapter 23

It was 7 PM, Hugh sat on the dining table sipping his tea. It was hard to stop thinking about Iris, how he had broken her heart by not being with her tonight. 

“For the first time in three years I've fallen for someone and I'm not with her tonight. What was I thinking? She made plans, she bought food for tonight's dinner and I shattered her. I'm such an arse. How could I do this to Iris? I have to go to her. I have to apologize. I know she'll forgive me. I celebrated Christmas after three years and that was with her. I should be spending my New Year's with her too and not my friends. How could I be so stupid?” 

Hugh took his cell phone and dialed his friend Andrew, at whose place the party was supposed to be held. 

"Hello?" Andrew answered after a few rings.

"Andrew! Uhh... I'm sorry, I won't be able to join you for the party tonight." 

"What? What happened?" Andrew asked. 

"Something came up. I'm really sorry. I'll see you around okay?" 

"But..." Hugh hung up before Andrew could finish. 

Hugh wrapped the red scarf gifted to him by Iris around his neck, took his black overcoat and his car key, and left the house. The streets were filled with lights. There were only a few people out on the road. But Hugh knew there's a fare on the street, just a kilometer from his place. It's going to be a real struggle to get his car past all the crowd.

He stopped near a flower shop and buys a bouquet with calla lilies, white peonies, red roses, and yellow freesias and kept them in his car. He started driving and his car broke down with a jerk after two kilometers. 

“Bloody Hell!” he exclaimed in irritation. 

He started calling the nearby mechanic, but there was no response. 

“Everyone is busy with celebrations. Now, what must I do? Walk it out like last time? It's not even snowing and it's just hardly one kilometer from here.” 

Hugh got out of the car and tried to push his car on the side of the road. Two men on the street approached him.

"Hey mate, need some help?" one man wearing a black woolen sweater, who was in his forties asked. 

"Yes, please. All the mechanics are closed it seems," Hugh said while panting. 

"It's a small village, mate. You don't get 24/7 services here. Especially during the holidays. Let us help you park in that corner. Call a mechanic tomorrow and take your car back," the other man wearing an off-white coat, who was also in his forties said. 

"Thank you, that's very kind of you." 

Hugh and the man in the off-white coat pushed the car and the other man steered the steering wheel of the car. They successfully parked the car in the left corner under the white streetlight. 

"Where are you headed? How will you manage now?" asked the man in the black sweater. 

"Oh, it's not very far from here. I'll walk," Hugh replied with a smile. 

"Alright, mate. Take care." 

"Thank you so much." Hugh shook hands with both of them. 

"No problem. Happy New Year," said the man in the off-white coat. 

"Happy New Year. Cheers," Hugh said and took the bouquet from the passenger seat and started to walk. 

The tiny snowflakes started falling on the ground.

“Holy Cow!” Hugh murmured and increased his speed. 

“I must reach Iris, before it starts snowing heavily, or else I'll freeze like the last time.” 

He soon reached the fair. The streets here were filled with white-yellow lights. All the Christmas Trees in the neighborhood were decorated with bright lights and colorful ornaments. The streets were bursting with chatter and happy faces. Kids clothed in woolen sweaters and jackets were hopping with toys in their hands. Some people were eating snacks from the food trucks while some of them clicking pictures.

Hugh pushed past everyone to reach Iris before it snows. While he squeezed past people, he got awkward stares and eyerolls. 

The snowfall had increased a little. Hugh's legs shivered and the fog kept coming out of his mouth as he started to breathe heavily. He didn't stop. He kept running with the flower bouquet in his hand. The bouquet was filled with snow. The road was empty ahead, so he was able to run. His body had started to ache in the cold. His pulse started to thud in his ears. 

The snowfall seemed to increase. Hugh paused for a second and shivered. He took a few breaths and started to run again. He had forgotten to wear his cap and his hair was covered in snow. Iris's home wasn't too far now. 

“Okay, I can do this. I'm almost there,” he said to himself. 

Hugh's lips started to tremble, and his legs started to shake. He could see Iris's house now. The light was lit. She was at home. The snowfall decreased. Hugh ran in the snow and paused at her lawn and started to pant heavily. He tried to look for Iris in the window, but she wasn't there. He started to walk slowly towards Iris's house. As he reached her door, he took deep breaths before ringing her doorbell. He wanted to see her, but he wasn't prepared as to what he was going to say to her.