The hum of a washing machine filled the smoky room. A woman sat slouched in the middle of a tattered green sofa. The couch was covered in cigarette burns and a half empty vodka bottle rested on the couch next to the woman. A cigarette still burning lay in a full ash tray on the side table that was covered with empty frozen dinner trays. The woman jerked in her sleep knocking the bottle off the couch onto wood floor.

The woman's hair was pulled back in a careless bun with her hair falling into her eyes. Her pajamas were a bright red with a small cigarette burn on the right sleeve. The washing machine buzzed waking the woman.

Wiping the sleep from her eyes the woman yawns rising from the couch. Rubbing her eyes as she shuffles her feet across the floor she stubs her toe.

"Ow. Stupid tree."

She shoves the tree out of her way. The lights on the tree flicker turning off and a few ornaments roll across the floor following the woman. A bright green ornament with a snowman painted on the front hits the woman's heel. The woman pauses looking down at the ornament she picks it up and pulls her arm back to chuck it. Mid throw the woman slumps to the floor in tears still holding the green ball.

"Stupid. Stupid ornament."

She sits on the floor rubbing the snowman as tears stream down her face. Rocking back and forth the woman doesn't hear the door open. A tall man wearing a red sweater and khakis steps into the room.

He kneels down placing a hand on the woman's back as he speaks, "Jo, I'm here now."

She slumps over as he puts his arms around her. The man rocks her wiping her tears away until she calms.

"I don't know what to do without him."

The man tightens his embrace as he responds, "I know."

"He was my best friend and my responsibility."

"He knew the risks. It wasn't your fault."

"What am I going to do, Sal?"

Sal stands and reaches his hand out to help Jo up.

"You're going to clean yourself up. You can't do this on your own. You need help."

Jo nodded and knelt down to pick up the remaining ornaments. The pair swept up the pine needles, threw out the dinner trays and cigarettes. Sal poured out the rest of the vodka and checked for other bottles. After cleaning the pair sat down on the couch. Sal put his arm around Jo who snuggled close to him with her feet curled up on the couch. They sat watching a Christmas movie falling asleep quickly.