December 24th 11:30 pm

 

She waited, for hours on end. She couldn't believe she would be spending Christmas alone. She never had.

“Haley” she would hear “Haley come, enjoy the party, it'll take your mind off it”

But she couldn't. No matter how many people were there she would still be alone.

 

Haley watched as the snow gently fell the ground outside. She sighed, the snow reminded her of the very first time she met him...

 

The snow fell thick and fast in the streets and parks. Children all around were running around in the snow. Laughing, smiling, just being happy.

 

An eight year old Haley sat in front of her house in the snow. She was busy making a snow ball. This one was going to be the best snowball ever she thought. She watched as some boys throw snowballs at each other, they were laughing and well having fun.

 

Once Haley finished her snowball, she got up and ran over to the snowball fight. She crept up the boys and waited until the time was right. Once the time was right, she smiled and threw the snowball. It hit one of the boys on the back. The boy quickly turned around, Haley froze in a mixture of fear, excitement and pride.

“Was that you?” the boy asked, Haley only nodded in response, the boy had dirty blond hair and was a little bit tall for his age. He smiled at her, showing his wonky teeth.

“Nice shot!” she says with a thumbs up, he then gets down and grabs a handful of snow and starts forming a snowball “But!” he starts, “Not as good as this one!” The boy quickly throws the snowball in her direction and it hits Haley right in the stomach, causing her to fall over. The other boys laugh at her but soon run off to continue the snowball fight.

 

Thinking that it wouldn't hurt her that bad, the boy rushed over to her and helped her up

“I'm sorry! Are you alright?” he asks, Haley nods in response “Sorry, I didn't know you would fall over” he said

“It's okay” replied Haley, once Haley regained her senses she looked at the boy

“I'm Sam by the way” he says

“I'm Haley” she replies, the two remained in the snow for a while until one of Sam's friends called him

“Sam, come on!”

“I got to go” said Sam as he got up “See you around” And with that, he ran off, waving to her as he disappeared. Haley smiled as she watched him leave.

 

It had been 15 years since then. Throughout those 15 years Haley and Sam grew closer and closer. The two quickly became best friends. The two were inseparable.

 

In primary school, they played together at lunch and break. They shared lunch, they helped each other with school work. They would play round each others house. Life was good for them.

 

Then secondary school came along and different personalities and people came. Sam got attention from other girls. And Haley was left out. When Year 10 came along, Sam had a different girlfriend ever other week. However Sam and Haley still remained friends, despite Sam's new attitude.

 

But one day, Haley was sick of Sam's attitude. She rebelled, she wanted her old Sam back. Haley sat by the window was she remembered that memorable argument...

 

“I'm sick of this!” Haley shouted

“Sick of what! What are you sick of?!” Sam shouted at her

“This!” Haley replied “I'm sick of this attitude you have, you go around fucking ever other girl, you don't seem to care about anything anymore and yet you still except us to be friends!”

“That's not true!” Sam retaliated

“OH, You know it is! Every other week I see you with another girl friend and every week you have sex with them, then you dump them! It's disgusting!” Haley shouts back at him

“I know! And I hate myself for it” he mutters but Haley didn't hear

“If you carry on like this, I will no longer be your friend!” she shouts

“It's not true that I don't care anymore!” Sam retaliates

“Really! Oh really! Then what do you care about!?” Haley asks in rage

“YOU!” Sam shouts, Haley froze in shock

“What?” she mutters

“I care about you, I always have, always will”

“But, But...” Haley stutters

“I’m sorry, Sorry for being such a dick” Sam walks up to her and holds her hand “Will you forgive this stupid dick and...”

“And?” Haley asks

“Allow him to make you his?” he asks shyly, Haley smiles slightly and grips Sam's hand

“Yes, Yes I will” Sam looks up at her and the two smile at each other, before long the two lean in and kiss gently on the lips.

“I'm sorry” Sam whispers as they part.

“It's okay, I forgive you” Haley whispers back.

 

Haley smiled slightly, since then a lot has happened, the two finished school and went off to college. And the two got into a lot of trouble.

In fact one time, when a teacher was giving Sam a beating, or so to speak, Sam stood up and said

“I don't need this, I'm going to join the army, then I wouldn't need to listen to any of your bullshit!” the teacher then responded by saying

“Good luck with that!”

With that, Sam left college, but Haley stayed on, she wanted to go to University and she wasn't going to give up on that dream. And soon enough she did and achieved a degree in ancient history.

 

Soon after the two moved out of their parents house and got a house. But that wasn't the biggest event in their lives.

 

Sam did make it to the Army. In fact he worked up to Sargent. However Sam often left home for good amount of time, sometimes up to 3 months.

 

Haley longed for him every day while he was away, but soon he would return and the two would leap into each others arms.

 

But this year, Sam was sent on a longer more challenging mission out in Afghanistan. He and his platoon were to be sent out in late June.

 

Haley still remembered the day they parted...

 

At the airport, Haley and Sam hugged each other for a long amount of time

“I don't want to see you go” Haley whimpered

“I don't want to either” Sam whispered, He was in his army camouflage uniform, combat boots and his backpack by his side

“I'll miss you” she whispered while crying

“me too, I won't ever stop thinking about you” he replied. His grip tightened on Haley, he never wanted to let her go.

 

Suddenly an announcement was heard,

“All troops to depart in 5 minutes” it said. Haley and Sam parted,

“Bye” she said “Come back safe”

“I will promise!” Sam said as he picked up his backpack. He gave Haley one last kiss on the lips before he left to board to plane

“I'll come back, Promise!” he shouted. And with that he was gone.

 

 

That was six months ago. It was now Christmas eve, 11:45 now to be precise. Haley stared out of the window. The snow had fallen thick and fast, just like the first time she and Sam met.

“Hey” said a voice. Haley turned around to find one of her friends standing there with a mince pie in his hand. It was Charlie. One of their old childhood friends, and Sam's team mate in the Army. However he had to leave early as he got injured on the battle field. He had got in contact with a grenade which exploded on his leg. Now his leg was gone and a false one was left in it's place.

“Hey” she muttered. Haley then looked back out the window

“Don't want it?” he asked as he showed her the mince pie, Haley only shook her head in response. Charlie walked up to her and placed his hand on her shoulder

“Come on, let's go outside, for a walk, it'll do ya good” he said with a smile. Haley looked at him and sighed

“Alright then” The two then left the house and walked outside in the snow.

 

For a while the to remained silent, until Charlie said

“Let's go the park” Haley looked at him with confusion but went along with it. The two walked slowly and steadily though the park

“Are you sure you're okay with this walking?” Haley asked

“oh yeah, this leg won't stop me at all!” said Charlie. The two smiled and continued walking in the snow.

 

Suddenly Charlie stopped and allowed Haley to continue, she soon noticed and asked

“Why'd you stop?”

“Because I don't need to walk anymore, we have arrived to where we should be” he responded with a smile. Haley was confused, she turned around and to her utter shock and joy she say someone in the distance.

Someone who she knew all to well.

 

Without thinking, Haley ran over the figure and hugged him hard.

It was Sam, he had returned home. For her.

“You're back!” she cried as she burrowed her head in his neck, Sam did the same and said

“Yes, I'm back, just in time!” He still had his army camouflage on but Haley didn't care.

“I missed you!” she cried

“So did I, so much!” he cried back.

The two the pulled away and Sam said

“Before we go back home, I need to give you your present”

“Sam, it can wait, give it to me in the warm” Haley said. She was just about to turn back when Sam stopped her

“No, now” he smiled at her, Haley turned back and looked at him

“I know I was away for too long, so I can't wait any longer” he then knelt down on one knee, Haley gasped in shock and joy

“Haley Smith, will you marry me?” Sam showed Haley a small but beautiful ring

“Yes!” Haley said as she leap into him arms.

 

The two smiled and laughed. They were finally together, after so long. Never to be parted again.