All I wanted to do was collapse. I wanted to climb the stairs, fall onto my bed, sleep and never wake up from this terrible dream I was trapped in. I was crying so hard, I couldn't breathe. Celine's song made my torn-up emotions come out, and they were the only thing I had left.
But Ellie stopped right in the doorway. I couldn't move because she was holding me up. She whispered, "Gabby, look up."
Through my tears, I looked up and a fresh batch of tears engulfed me. There, in the living room, stood Isaac, Taylor and Zac triumphantly. A huge Christmas tree, decorated top to bottom, in shimmering lights, garland and ornaments, topped with a glowing angel, stood in the center. Red and green was strewn all over the room. But that wasn't what I really saw.
Isaac stood across the room from me. My Christmas gift, a chain with a heart engraved with a small angel, hung around his neck. His face held the most powerful sight I had ever seen…eyes full of undying love and a mouth ready to spurt his feelings. He ran to me, pulling me to him. I closed my eyes, running a hand through his wet hair, and memorizing the feel of his arms around me. For a long time, I had ached to be held this way.
"Guys, look up." Taylor broke the silence.
Ellie was no longer by my side. She was in her rightful place in Zac's arms.
I looked up and saw the small green plant resting above our heads, beckoning us to move on. My eyes locked on Isaac's. He raised a hand from my back and wiped my tears away. Then I closed my eyes as our emotions finally spilled out, uniting us in a very long kiss that meant the world to me.
Through the haze I was feeling as I stood in Isaac's embrace, I heard Zac shout, "It's snowing!" Sure enough, white flakes were falling from the sky. But all I really cared about at that moment was Isaac.
"Gabby, I am so sorry," he said. "I never meant to hurt you. I never meant to taunt you. All I ever wanted was you. The emotions that had rooted themselves in me drove me to crazy outbursts, saying things I never meant. I have longed to hold you this way for a long, long time. Tonight, sitting on that airplane, I knew the way I was leaving you wasn't right. I had things I needed to say. So I walked right off that plane."
My eyes were locked on his face as he held me by his words. His hands were on my waist tenderly, but his words were the only thing I felt.
"I came back here to tell you that…that I love you, Gabby. I always have, and with God as my witness, I swear I always will."
"Isaac…you have no idea how much I love you," I whispered. "I love you so much, Clarke Isaac Hanson."
To my surprise, Isaac's eyes filled with tears.
"For God's sake, kiss her already!" Ellie's emotional voice cried.
For the first time in a long time, I smiled with true happiness. Isaac's face broke into a beautiful, embarrassed smile. I reached my hand up to his neck.
"Isaac, you are my Christmas miracle," I whispered. He looked at me and the love I saw healed my broken heart. I reached up and followed my best friend's advice…and certainly not for the last time, for Isaac and I had started over.
