“A Warm Christmas Surprise” By Madison Stewart
It was a cold winter day, I was cuddled up by the fireplace with my warm pajamas, a book, and hot chocolate. Beside me was my kitten, Luna and I could hear the snores from the other room coming from my boyfriend, Daniel who was already asleep at 10:00 as well as the creaks from the old wooden floors.
It was Christmas Eve and me and Daniel decided to come up to his parent’s cottage for the holiday this year, our families weren’t doing anything special this year, and we have never really had any alone time in the whole two years of our relationship. The cottage was beautiful, and we knew it was the perfect spot to spend our Christmas holiday. It was in the middle of the dark, snowy, deep woods with no other cottages for miles. It was small, yet perfect.
The wooden panels unevenly lined the exterior and the cracked yellow paint on the interior. The inside had a large fireplace on the longest wall, which crackled and popped as it was lit. There was only one floor, the kitchen connecting to the living room and only one bathroom and bedroom. The kitchen was small, with all white appliances and a small wooden table with three chairs in the center. The living room was my favourite place though, the large fuzzy white carpet centered around the ugly plaid couch and lazy boy chair which was Daniel’s dad’s favourite place to sit when they come up here. The couch is nicely placed beside the fireplace so you get enough warmth to keep you cozy but not enough that you are dripping in sweat.
I looked around a little longer and I picked my book back up again. A few minutes later I found myself drifting off, so I decided to head to bed. I walked into the one bedroom in the cottage, adjacent from the fireplace to find Daniel asleep soundly in the big, king bed, he looked so comfortable. This room was very small, it had dark red wallpaper which was almost a burgundy. There was an ugly plaid comforter which matched the curtains and the living room couches it was all torn up and thrown about from Daniel’s messy sleeping habits. There was a tall wardrobe facing the bed, made out of old wood that you could smell throughout the room, it had an oval-shaped mirror on it which was dusty from how long it has been there.
I slipped off my fuzzy slippers and tucked myself slowly and quietly into the bed as Daniel was sound asleep right beside me. I pulled the comforter slowly over my body as Daniel groaned, I stopped for a moment as he rolled back over with his back facing me. I finally laid down and closed my eyes, as soon as my head hit the pillow I immediately fell asleep and before I knew it I was waking up to the sound of the morning birds and the smell of bacon coming from the kitchen.
It was Christmas Day, which also meant it was the day we have to leave, it was bitter-sweet. I slipped on my warm slippers that were set beside the bed and I walked out of the bedroom, the door creaked as I closed it on the way out. I saw Daniel, stood in front of the oven frying the bacon I had smelt earlier, he also had plates of toast, eggs and a bowl of fruit ready on the old, circular table. I also noticed a small box with a little bow on it, in the middle of the table.
“Morning babe,” Daniel said, and he noticed me walk out of the room.
“Morning” I replied with a smile “Merry Christmas!” I hugged him.
He hugged me back.”Merry Christmas, my love” He replied.
“Sit down, let’s eat!” Daniel said.
I sat down at the round wooden table and pulled my chair in as it scraped along the wooden floor. As I was fixing my plate with some fruit and bacon I noticed Daniel slowly reaching over and grabbing the small, square box in front of me.
As I shoved a piece of the just warm, crispy bacon in my mouth I saw Daniel get down on his knee.
I thought “is he doing what I think he is doing?¨
“Harper Ann-Fawn Smith Grow old along with me, the best is yet to be. Will you spend the rest of your life with me?” Daniel said softly with the biggest smile on his lips and a shakiness to his tone.
“Is this a proposal?” I replied, laughing.
¨Of course!¨ He said
I jumped into his arms and squeezed him tightly.
“This was the best Christmas gift yet,” I thought.
The book Anthem by Ayn Rand is one you may have never heard or read before but need too. 
The 'M' Word 