I Left My House Empty Three Days Before Christmas

sweetheart. None of this is your fault. Put extra butter in yours.

She sent back a laughing face and then, after a minute:

I wish you were here but also I’m glad you escaped.

Escaped.

Out of the mouths of children.

Christmas Day

On Christmas morning I walked down to the water before sunrise with a paper cup of coffee warming my fingers through the lid.

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