章節 31: Gift

The freezing winter air hit Claudia violently and made her shiver from the cold. She was walking down the streets still clad in dark attire, rubbing her bare hands at each other to warm them up.

After she met that guy named Marcus, she returned to the funeral and stayed there until the end.

She didn't want to appear rude to everyone who came and just disappear on them. When in truth that was really what she wanted to do, being swallowed up by the ground and don't come out and witness this harsh reality.

The reality of being alone in this world.

She was walking tristless through the snow feeling it sink under her feet and make this comforting crunchy sound.

It helped her immensely keeping a clear mind by isolating all the other sounds, like the cars passing by and honking and the people chatting about their everyday live, work, school and Christmas and whatever there was to talk about.

But soon she heard the laughers of children chime off her left side. She looked up seeing a boy and a girl holding the hands of their parents and go in the toy store Claudia stood in front of.

She looked dazed and in awe after the harmonious looking family. How good it must be to have a home and call it your owns.

Heinrich's idea of settling down was for her not that bad, but sadly she had no one in her 27 years of life who catched her interest or affection.

She did have many relationships going on and off, but none of them sticked together. There was always some discrepancy between her and her partner that led to being discontent in this union of two.

'sigh'

A sigh escaped her mouth and she was about to keep going wherever her feet brought her. When a reddish object caught her attention.

On the toy store display were multiple toys lined up. They were colorful, bright and eye catching. With different types of toys from airplanes to a lego castle to dolls, everything a child's heart could wish for.

However, the thing Claudia saw wasn't as brilliant as them but in her eyes it was the perfect toy she has ever seen.

It was a tiny rabbit with the identical color of her hair and shiny green button eyes, that glittered in the light the lamps in the display gave off. It was like a little Claudia in a plush-rabbit form.

A smile crept on her face, she almost forgot, today was Emilié's birthday. How joyed she'd be having her two favourite things combined in one. A rabbit and Claudia. She would jump from excitement.

Thinking more about it Claudia's heart warmed up, it reminded her that she wasn't all alone in this world.

She still had Emilié, and she was expecting Claudia to come back home to her side. Or how else could Emilié live peaceful in that house. The girl needed someone to protect and care for her and that was she herself. Her nanny, Claudia.

But not only Emilié benefits from Claudia's existence but Claudia too. Emilié was her little light in Claudia's darkness who'd guide her through her life and give her a purpose to keep on living after this loss.

Reinforcing her will to stay strong for Emilié and herself, she entered the toy store going up to the display and take the plush-rabbit before anyone else could take it.

She went to the cashier who had one of this huge but totally fake smiles on.

Claudia knew it was fake, for she had to put on one of these herself today for appearence sake, even though looking sad was fine too since it was understandable, but it went over her consiouce to do that since she put on a fake smile.

"Hello ma'am. How can I be of help?" the cashier asked, still with that fake smile plastered on her face.

"I would like to buy this." she pointed at the plush-rabbit. "And could you wrap it up? It's a birthday present for someone important to me."

"Of course ma'am. Just a second please."

Claudia payed and the cashier woman wrapped it up beautifully in a little box with pink paper wrap and a long blue ribbon.

It was soon to be Christmas, so stores offered campaigns like gift wrapping for free.

Claudia thanked the woman and took the wrapped gift to get out of the store.