Oh, love, dont think the worst of me! Im not homeless. My names Michael Simmons. I came to see my daughter. Its hard to talk about
There were just a few hours left till New Years Eve. All her coworkers had long since rushed home, but no one was waiting for Emily
Shed decided to get ahead of her work so she wouldnt have to go back in on the second of January.
Shed make it home in timea couple of salads, some fruit, and a bottle of bubbly were waiting for her in the fridge, prepped earlier.
No one to dress up for, really. She just wanted to kick off her heels and slip into her cosy pyjamas.
Things had ended with Andrew a few months back, and the divorce had been so messy, Emily wasnt in any rush to jump into another relationship.
Truth be told, she was fine on her own
Andrew had tried to win her backcalled a few timesbut she didnt want to start all over. Nothing good would come of it. They just werent right for each other, too much history.
She didnt even want to think about him. That was the past. Why ruin the holiday?
Emily stepped off the bus. Just a few more steps and shed be home.
Then she spotted an old man sitting on the bench outside her building. A small Christmas tree stood beside him.
“Probably visiting someone,” she thought.
She said hello, and the man nodded without looking up.
For a second, she thought she saw tears in his eyesor maybe just the reflection of the streetlights. Either way, she didnt dwell on it and hurried inside.
The evening had turned chilly, and she shivered.
After a quick shower, she pulled on her favourite fluffy pyjamas, poured herself a coffee, and went to the window.
Oddly, the old man was still there.
“Over an hour since I got home,” she thought. “Two hours till midnight. If hes visiting someone, whys he still outside? And that look in his eyes”
She set the table, flicked on the fairy lights draped over her little tree, but her mind kept drifting back to that lonely old man.
Half an hour passed. She peeked out againhe hadnt moved.
“Maybe hes unwell? Hell freeze out there.”
She threw on her coat and hurried downstairs.
Approaching the bench, she sat beside him. The man glanced at her, then looked away.
“Excuse me, are you alright? I noticed youve been sitting here a while. Its freezing. Can I help with anything?”
The old man sighed.
“Nothing to worry about, love. Im fine. Just sitting a bit longer, then Ill be off.”
“Where to?”
“The station. Heading home.”
“Thats no good. I dont want to find you still here in the morning. Come on, up you get! Please, come inside. Warm up, then go wherever you need to.”
“But”
“No buts! Come on!”
She knew if her friend Charlotte could see her now, shed be wide-eyed andwell, she wasnt here, and Emily couldnt just leave him.
The old man stood slowly, picking up the little tree.
“Can I bring this?”
“Of course you can.”
Inside, he set the tree down politely in the hallway, took off his coat. Every movement seemed stiffhe really had been out in the cold too long.
He sat at the kitchen table while Emily poured tea. He cupped the mug, warming his hands for a long moment before taking a sip. Then he looked up.
“Love, dont think the worst of me. Im not homeless. Names Michael Simmons. I came to see my daughter. Its hard to say.”
He and her mother had split years agohis fault. Hed met another woman.
“Fell head over heels, like a fool. Didnt see straight”
At first, he hid it. Then his wife, Elizabeth, found out about him and Margaret. The fights started, and one day, he just slammed the door and leftran off to the woman he thought he loved.
His daughter had been five.
At first, hed visit, tried to help. But Elizabeth was proud. Wouldnt take a penny, not even child support. Wanted to prove she could raise their girl alone.
He tried sending money through his parents, through hernothing worked. She shut him out completely.
Started turning their daughter against him, too.
One day, he went to her school with toys. She ran. Wouldnt even talk to him. Said he was nobody to her.
Thats when he stepped back. Stopped trying to be part of her life. He and Margaret moved away.
At first, he sent money for his daughter, but it always came back. Eventually, he stopped. He knew Elizabeth would never accept anything from him.
Ten years ago, he and Margaret returned to town. His parents were gone, so they moved into their old flat.
Later, they sold it, bought a little cottage in a village just outside the city.
No kids of their own, though.
Then, two years ago, Margaret passed. He was alone.
“Dont know why I went to see my daughter today. Wasnt expecting forgiveness.”
Hadnt seen her in decades. She still lived in the same flat where theyd once been a family.
He brought the tree, knocked on her door. She wouldnt even let him step inside.
“I get it Why did I even go? What did I want? Im a stranger to her. What was I hoping for?”
It wasnt like he needed anythinghe had the cottage, a decent pension. Couldve helped her, even. She was all the family he had left.
“Wouldve been different if Elizabeth had let me be part of her life.”
Hed left his daughters flat, walked aimlessly for hours. Ended up on that bench. Sat there, numb. Mightve stayed all night
“But fate had other plans. Maybe Im still needed for something. Thank you, love. Im warm now. Ill gocatch the bus home.”
“Youre not going anywhere tonight! Next bus isnt till morning, and its nearly midnight. Stay. Ill make up the sofa, and you can leave in the daylight.”
Michael looked at her.
“Dont want to be a bother, love. Not manyd let a stranger in like this. Truth is I dont fancy being alone tonight. If its alright, Ill stay. Go home in the morning.”
“Sorted.”
Come morning, Michael gathered his things.
“Thank you, Emily. Youre an angel. Saved me from myself last nightI really mightve stayed on that bench.”
He hesitated. “You know, you should visit sometime. Its not farlittle cottage, plenty of space. Got a few beehives out back, lovely in summer.
“Margaret loved the garden Apples, pears, you name it. Winters cosy too. Come down, love. Have a break. River nearby. Its nice there.”
“I will, Michael. Promise.”
“Good. Right then thank you again.”
She watched from the window till he turned the corner and vanished.
Funny, isnt it? Family can turn their backs, yet sometimes strangers become family.
Emily had lost her parents young. After hearing the old mans story, she decidedshed visit him. Soon.
