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Molly had gone out with friends, so Sam and Aero had the apartment to themselves for a while. The small Christmas tree she and Sam had set up in the corner sparkled with lights and colorful ornaments, casting a warm, cozy glow over the living room. Holiday music played softly from the television, and snowflakes were drifting lazily outside the window, making Sam feel like she was in a Hallmark movie.
“That’s okay, love. I don’t need a present,” Sam insisted, leaning over to kiss his cheek.
“I didn’t say I didn’t get you anything,” Aero said, pulling a small box from his back pocket.
Sam giggled, reaching under the couch to retrieve the gift she’d gotten for Aero.
“Sammy,” he admonished gently. “You shouldn’t have gotten me anything.”
“Just open it,” she insisted, handing over the square box with festive wrapping paper and a red bow.
Setting aside her gift, Aero carefully unwrapped the gift, shifting aside the tissue paper, and removing a tiny airplane.
With a golden string making a loop, the silver F-35 with its sharp wings and pointed nose, dangled between his fingers. It was a perfect scale model of the exact plane Aero recalled working on during his time in the service. He gulped, inspecting the ornament as Sam watched him, biting on her bottom lip nervously.
“I love it,” Aero said gruffly. “Thank you.”
Sam smiled. “Anthony helped me pick the right one. I thought maybe you could put it on the tree. Or in your truck. Wherever you want.”
He nodded. “Thanks, Sammy.”
He reached over and wrapped her in his arms, hugging her tight to his chest, where his heart was swelling with love and happiness. In the back of his mind, a dark void called to him, the painful memories of what he’d experienced threatening to take over. Instead of giving in, he performed the coping strategy he and Dr. Byrd had practiced to keep him grounded.
He opened his eyes and looked around. He could see the glittering yellow lights on the tree, the spiky green foliage of a wreath hung on the wall, the deep burgundy color of Sam’s sweater, the smooth wooden surface of the coffee table, and the red noses on the reindeer that decorated his gift to her. He let out a long, slow breath.
Listening closely, he could hear the tinkling of bells in the background of the song that was playing, the sound of Sam’s even breathing beside him, the whoosh of wind outside the window, and the crackle of the gas fireplace burning merrily across the room.
“Aero?” Sam said, gazing up at him. “Are you okay?”
He nodded. “I’m almost done.”
She tilted her head in confusion, but stayed still and gave him the time he seemed to need.
Refocusing, Aero tried to find three things he could feel. The weight of Sam’s body against his chest, the warmth of the fire drifting over to them, and the soft feel of a throw pillow that he ran his fingers over again and again.
Exhale, inhale, and Aero found two things he could smell. Sam’s lavender scent, of course, calmed him immediately and mixed wonderfully with the pine scent of the small tree.
“Yes,” he sighed, relief and contentedness coursing through him as he reached out for his beer, taking a sip and noting the malty flavor on his tongue. His muscles relaxed, his mind quieted, and he returned to this moment with Sam. “Better.”
She peered up at him. “What was that?”
Aero smiled sheepishly. “I was doing the 5-4-3-2-1 method that Byrd and I have been working on.”
“Do you wanna tell me about it?”
Aero nodded, and explained how it worked, what he had chosen around the room, and explained that he felt much better.
“That’s amazing. I’m so proud of you,” Sam said, her eyes burning with happy tears. He was making such progress. He was healing, and she got to witness it. That was the best present.
“Here, Sammy.” Aero handed over her gift. “Open it.”
Excitedly, she tore off the paper and removed the lid of the white box. Inside, nestled among dark green velvet, was a silver bracelet. When she picked it up, she saw tiny charms dangling from the chain.
An apple, a snowflake, and, incredibly, a tiny airplane.
“Aero,” she gasped, touching each little metal charm. “It’s beautiful.”
Aero felt a blush creep up his neck. “I picked those out myself. An apple, because you’re a teacher, the snowflake because, well, it’s our first Christmas, and the last one…”
