By the time Christmas arrived with the pier, it felt like it had been there all calendar year, leaning from the railing by using a paper cup of chilly coffee, looking at the tide repeat itself without A great deal enthusiasm. The lights have been up—strings of these tangled like old fishing lines—blinking in shades that recommended cheer but generally shipped persistence.
The pier smelled like salt, fried dough, and nostalgia that didn’t belong to any person especially. A plastic Santa swayed Carefully within the wind, his hat completely mid-slide, like he’d started laughing the moment and in no way quite recovered. Somewhere down the boards, a radio played carols that sounded worn out, like they’d been Functioning double shifts since November.
People today arrived in levels. Sweaters over regrets, scarves wrapped close to 50 percent-concluded discussions. Partners walked gradually, negotiating silence. Young children ran in advance, fearless and loud, certain something magical needed to be at the conclusion of the pier because that’s how tales ordinarily function.
In the much edge, the ocean didn't treatment. It acknowledged the holiday without remark, rolling in and out with The boldness of something that realized January was coming. A fisherman in fingerless gloves claimed he’d been there due to the fact ahead of dawn, even though nobody requested. He stated Christmas was a good day for waiting. No person argued.
As being the Solar dipped small, the lights turned extra convincing. The chilly sharpened, the laughter loosened, and for a moment—just a little, breakable second—it felt like time had paused to stretch its legs. Not Pleasure precisely, not unhappiness possibly. Some thing between. Some thing genuine.
When night time eventually settled, people today drifted away, carrying leftovers and pics and gentle disappointment like souvenirs. The pier remained, decorated and affected person, Prepared to get it done all once again tomorrow.
In spite of everything, it absolutely was a lengthy holiday break. And yuletide, down for the pier, experienced uncovered the way to linger.
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