Estranged Family

         It's nearly the cut-off date. If I don't mail these presents today they wont guarantee delivery by Christmas. I could finally go this year to the family Christmas party, but I haven't gone in twenty or so years. Why start now?
         Before I even have a chance to react, there is an older woman rushing to the post office door the same time as I, we collide. Our packages fly. As I scramble to sort hers from mine we both look up and our eyes meet. I know these eyes because they are mine. I shake the snow out of my hair and stand up straight looking her up and down. Her frail frame shaking in the cold; covered in an old jacket not quite thick enough. I can smell her strong perfume used to cover up the smell of cigarettes and wine.
         Her eyes glisten like the snow. "Nathan!" she gasps
         "Mother." I respond flatly.
         Her voice is brittle. "It's been so long. I think about you all the time. I'm so glad I ran into you. We should get together sometime, we could go for coffee right now if you'd like?"
         "Are you still with him?" I reply bracing myself for the answer I already know based off the apparent bruise on her cheek.
         "He's different now Nathan, it's been twenty years, you wouldn't even recognize him. He's trying to change for real this time."
I clenched my fists as I turned to walk away abandoning her and the presents in the snow.