Several layers of fabric covered my body to combat the frosty breeze. But my poor cheeks were not prepared. My numbed hands tried to find warmth inside my pocket. I hurried my steps along the high street hoping to grab some food to cook for a fancy dinner but it was too late. The store has closed.

I looked around and noticed the barely few people on the road. Then my eyes gazed on the trees that used to be green but have now turned bare and withered. The town was quiet as I walked home.

At first it felt a little bizarre. There was not much food on the dining table. There are neither family members nor little children playing around. There was not even music to break the stillness of the night. It was nothing close to what I was accustomed to on a New Year’s Eve. All I had is an uncomplicatedly relaxing home that was restored to its good shape after tremendous effort of cleaning up.

I found a sense of pleasure in vacuuming the tiny unwanted bits in the carpet and scrubbing the bathroom to turn spic and span. I experienced relief as I unpacked my huge suitcase and organized the rummaged closet. When everything else appeared pleasing to sight, I knew it was time to rest in my bed and indulge in the comfort of the fleece blanket.

Not a single sparkle showed up as I peeked through my glass window. Outside, the darkness of the sky lingered with the freezing gust of the wind. My mind drew vivid portraits of spectacular fireworks and merry-making in the nearby city. It was tempting but I opted to be alone. Read the entire entry »