Horror Stories from Horrified - Volume One (2)

Chr istmas. I cr ied har der. Cinnamon shook her flank a few times then w ent back to my
hand, tr usting me w ith the gr aceful w eight of her noble head. Steve told me to smile as he
took a few snaps on his phone.
?A keeper. You look beautiful.?
Eventually, to ever yone?s r elief, w e left the cr ow d. I kept tur ning back as w e w ent,
unw illing to lose sight of her tr usting br ow n eyes.
24th December
The str eets w er e a str ange mix of safety and str ess. People w er e hustling, fr antic in their
final few hour s befor e mer r y lockdow n emptied the str eets. Despite the cr ow ds and gaudy
over dose of colour s and lights, I found the exper ience was exhilar ating.
I enter ed the jew eller s thr ough an uncomfor table blast fr om the heater above the door.
The man at the counter asked if I needed help in a way that suggested doubt, this late in the
day. The clock behind him said it was ten to four.
?I called ear lier about an item on your site, it was put aside for me??
He took my name and disappear ed into the backr oom, r etur ning w ith a small black box.
He opened it to show me the silver stag?s head br oach. The detail was beautiful, fr om the
waves of hair dow n the thr oat to the knots of bone at its br ow. Steve didn?t w ear jew eller y
but this was something he w ould keep on his desk, to enjoy the sentiment.
?That?s per fect.?
As I settled up, the man asked if I wanted it w r apped.
?I can add a note if it?s for someone special??
I thought for a moment, then asked for a single w or d and he took the time to w r ite it in
beautiful cur sive on an ivor y car d. Wor dlessly, he w r apped the black box in silver paper
and scour ed r ibbons befor e placing it in a smar t, black bag.
?Mer r y Chr istmas,? he said, as he handed it to me. ?And congr atulations.?
The flat was dar k w hen I got in. I stepped out of my coat and boots and moved
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