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Just like I’o

Chapter 2

Heather

I can’t believe Dodge Ronson is holding my hand

I follow along behind the , re next to Santa’s sleigh in the Christrandparents have their home

It’s the most Christmassy place on earth, I think, and people come from all over the world to visit all year but especially at the holidays

I was thirteen that first year My heart frozen, just like the winter air, as I stood with randparents were holdingof my first Christmas without my mom and dad

I saw the reindeer first They were just like out of a storybook Bigger than I i the enorh down the center ofas snowflakes fluttered down and the clock in the center of town chimed

The bells all over their harnesses were jingling, their nostrils flaring They snorted and trotted forith Santa holding the reins and waving to the crowd

That’s when I saw hie of those animals

This man was

He stood off to the side, bigger than any lances every few steps as if checking in

Are we okay?

Yes, you are fine, I’m here

Okay, ill keep going then

Then, our eyes connected, and he stopped

Then the deer stopped, and the croent silent

Santa looked at the ave a few uneasy ‘Ho, ho, ho’s’ to the unsure crowd as my heart felt like it would burst fro our eyes stayed connected, but it felt like an eternity and a blink of an eye