8 - I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday
Martina isn't happy. Not that she's ever been happy, mind. Not truly. She's experienced acknowledgement when she got a job, passed her exams, earned her first wage. But she's never felt leap around grinning from ear to ear because isn't life wonderful happy. And now she's even lower than her previous lows. Shifty is a mess. And she is a mess because of him. Everyday, he hits her, uses her, cheats her and a whole load of other unpleasant things she would rather not think about. And all that while he's getting drunk and stealing things. His excuses don't wash. But she can't get rid of him, can't find the strength inside of her to push him out of her life. And so she's sat, in the middle of December, with sleet lashing at the window and the boiler on the brink, feeling sad. Sad isn't the right word. Low. Empty. Hollow. She's cold. But she doesn't feel it. He's broken her.
Christmas Day dawns, and something is amiss. Shifty isn't in bed next to her. He normally is, stealing the covers and smelling of beer, covered in lipstick that isn't hers. But he isn't there. She finds a note on the kitchen worktop. 'Gone to Auntie Nellie's. She cooks better than you.' That's it. Rude, yes. But it brings her so much joy. For a whole day she can be by herself, without worrying about if he will be back in time for supper or if he will moan about what she's made. She's alone. If he disappears on Christmas, Martina decides, she wishes it would be Christmas everyday.