Christmas Spirits

Contest entry: Picture as prompt. Fireflies in an enchanted forest. Lukewarm review: That’s an interesting way to remember your Christmas memories with each firefly, or just memories. Two people getting to know each other. She is interested in this guy who knows how to remember her memories from long ago.

“What did you put in my eggnog?”

“Just a little dark rum. You saw me. Why?”

“I’m seeing things.”

“Good.”

“Good?”

“Yes, good. I wasn’t sure you would catch it, but you did.”

“Catch what?”

I laughed. “The Christmas Spirit, what else?”

She turned to me and held me by my shoulders. “Are you daft?”

“A little. You seem to have that effect on me.”

She cocked her head. “Oh, it’s my fault I’m seeing things?”

I nodded. “I wanted our first Christmas together to be perfect, so I set out to infect you.”

“This is your idea of perfect? I’m seeing spots. It’s like a bunch of fireflies, only you can’t have fireflies in the middle of winter. What’s happening?”

“Do you believe in ghosts?”

She shook her head and let go of my shoulders. “No, of course not.”

“What about memories?”

“Of course I believe in memories. Is that what you are trying to create, a memory?”