Giles snippet, rated G

[gilascave]

Giles stands by the mantle, pretending to be fussing with the strand of holly. There’s nothing wrong with it, and little he can without knocking everything else off. It’s carefully wound around the photographs, and the smiling faces look like they’re listening to one of his stories. Or, more precisely, one of his lectures.

But he stands there nonetheless, fiddling with the greenery and pretending like it has to be just so. To do anything else would mean to turn around and see the living room. Decorated for Christmas.

And empty.