Mistletoe

December 15th

Monday December 15th

06.45am

Was it possible to burst from happiness?

I wasn't entirely sure, but considering the amount of glee that was inhabiting me I wasn't inclined to deem it impossible. Even though I hadn't slept much because I was full of jittering nerves and just too energetic to fall asleep in general, I still felt fully rested. It wasn't even seven and I was ready to start my day.

My brain seemed to have made the decision of going on a run before I was aware of it myself, because I'd begun taking on my running tights without giving it a single thought. It was probably all for the best anyway, I'd need all the wits about me when I got my exam assignment in a few hours. Unfortunately it didn't go live until ten, so I'd have to try and occupy myself until then.

"You're in a good mood," mom noted as I bounced into the kitchen, kissed her cheek and grabbed a banana out of the fruit bowl. She looked me over quizzically as I beamed at her. "It can't be because you have an exam. I know you're fond of your school work, but it has never stretched this far."

"Don't question the happiness, mom. Just roll with it," I told her and threw the peel away before going to put my running shoes on. "Have a nice day!" I shouted before the door shut behind me.

Everything seemed to be perfect today; the increasingly cold air, the trees, the sky, the streets, you name it and it was perfection. It was still dark as well, the result of everything surrendering to the winter month that was December. However, there was a small lighting of the sky in the distance, smiling I stepped onto the pavement and began jogging down the road.

I'd brought my mp3 player with me, and the earbuds were securely fastened in my ears but so far I'd yet to press play. Maybe because I wasn't running from my own head today, I wasn't looking for a release from any pressing thoughts. All I was looking for today was just a way to get rid of some excess energy, but that was it.

I didn't need any musical tunes to drown out my thoughts, because this Monday morning my head was a pleasant place to be.

Yesterday had been more than I'd ever imagined it could be. There weren't any coherent words that stood out in my mind as the day would replay in my head, but there was a ridiculous amount of emotions that went along with the memories. A plethora of joy and happiness dominated, but there was also contentment. But the nerves were gone.

Gone were the insecurities; banished to a part of my head that I had no access to.

Something had shifted deep inside of me yesterday, it felt like a missing part had fallen into place; a piece of the puzzle I hadn't even been aware was missing. I felt an eerie calmness I hadn't been acquainted with before, and it stretched deep inside of me, anchoring itself to my very being.

There was always something to stress about, a thought that demanded to be heard or a possible situation that I needed to foresee. But not today. Today my mind was peaceful. And it was glorious.

I stopped in the middle of the path that wound through the park and stretched my arms out wide and leant my head back so that I was looking up at the dark blue morning sky. I closed my eyes and breathed in deep, my grin stretched so wide I thought my face was going to rip. A giggle escaped me as all the joy I was feeling leapt to the surface, and I let it pour out of me before reopening my eyes to the world in front of me.

Sighing with contentment I skipped a step ahead before I fell into a pleasant jog. There was no burning of muscles or lungs today, only the light tingle in my body as every single cell was on edge.

09.10am

I was lying in the shape of a starfish in the middle of the living room floor when my phone began to vibrate. Maneuvering around the giant ball of fur that was stretched across my upper body I fished my new cellphone out of my pocket. Sergeant's elbow dug into my waist as I shifted and I let out a laugh.

Putting the phone to my ear I tried to compose my laughter, "Hello?"

"You sound awfully cheerful," Parker's voice noted through the speaker, and my stomach did a joyous flip.

I scratched Sergeant behind the ear while grinning like the cheshire cat. "I have a few things to be happy about," I retorted.

"Then that makes two of us."

Gritting my teeth in order to keep the squeal of joy at bay I said, "Is that so?"

Parker didn't take my bait by sharing his reasons, instead he said, "My excuse for calling was that I was going to wish you good luck on your exam."

"And your intention?"

He chuckled as I'd caught the tone of his statement perfectly. "My intention was to ask when I can see you."

My feet shot up from the ground and suspended themselves in the air and I kicked at the empty air while pressing my hand to my mouth, not at all able to contain my level of excitement. When I was certain I was able to respond I removed my hand.

"I'm not sure," I said with earnest. "I should spend my entire day doing my exam as it's due tomorrow. And after the deadline I have a three hour shift at work."

Parker didn't miss a beat. "I'll see you tomorrow after your shift then. If only to walk you home, I don't really care, I just want to see you."

My chest swelled at his words and I was so glad he couldn't see all my reactions today as the grin I'd been sporting all day grew impossibly wider. Was this real life?

"Okay," I told him, "I'll see you then. I'll be the one holding coffee."

"Looking forward to it," Parker answered. "Oh, and Valerie?"

"Yes?"

"Good luck on your exam today. The selfish part of me hopes you finish early."

"Thank you, so do I."

We said our goodbyes and for a while I laid there on the floor with Sergeant in a state of blissfulness, until it was time to boot up my laptop and log into the systems to get a hold of my exam assignment.

I spent the next fifteen minutes before the assignments went live to make myself a cup of coffee and also gather myself mentally. I made sure all the books I needed was available on the kitchen table, and slowly but surely my mind slipped back into it's meticulous ways.