Rita Visits Her Best Friend Pauline’s Flat on New Year’s Eve to Water the Plants and Feed Her Pet To…

So, you wont believe what happened to Alice the other New Years Eve. Shed agreed to pop round to her mate Emilys flat to water her plants and feed her pet tortoise. Emily and her husband had nipped off to Cornwall for a little winter break together. Anyway, Alice had a key that Emily left her, so she let herself in and walked through the hallway and was gobsmacked! All the lights were on, fairy lights twinkling away on the Christmas tree, and the telly was blaring at full volume. She could hear strange noises coming from the bathroom. Alice pushed open the bathroom door, and honestly, she nearly dropped her phone in shock.

So, this all started because Alice was left on her own for New Years. Well, not so much proudly alone as just properly fed up about it.

Her best pal Emily had legged it to Cornwall with her husband five days before the New Year.

Emily trusts Alice more than any of her other friends, so she left her in charge of watering the plants and feeding that little tortoise of hers.

They actually lived in the same building, just in different blocks.

Alice had agreed to help out, genuinely thinking nothing of it. Oh, if only shed known what would happen…

See, about a week before the New Year, her boyfriend Tom or Tommy, as shed call him with whom Alice had lived for two years, dropped a bombshell over dinner. He blurted out that hed fallen in love with someone else.

And this someone else was already four months pregnant. Obviously, as a stand-up bloke, he was obliged to marry her.

Thats what she wanted, and her mum, and her gran were all behind it. Tom didnt really argue, he just nodded along.

And what about me? Alice asked, feeling completely lost.

Tom just finished his dinner, dabbed his mouth with a napkin, and shrugged.

You? Oh Alice, dont worry yourself. Lets be honest, its not like Im some great loss. We both know the sparks long gone, and were just going through the motions.

He paused and added, Stuff like this happens all the time. You should be grateful Im saving you the trouble. Want to help me pack? No? Thats alright, Ill manage.

And off he went to pack his things like nothing out of the ordinary was going on.

Alice barely left the house for four days just cried and felt rotten. It wasnt until her other friend, Claire, stopped by and worked out Alice hadnt actually eaten anything for days just lived off coffee.

The three of them Claire, Alice, and Tom had originally planned to ring in the New Year together with a crowd. Theyd even booked a table at a nice restaurant ages ago. Now Tom would be bringing his new wife, which Alice just couldnt bear.

Absolutely no way did she want to spend New Years with her parents, either. The sympathy would be unbearable, especially as Mum had never liked Tom.

December 31st rolled around, and Alice being Alice still clung on to hope that something magical might happen. Dont ask me why! I suppose its just habit. We all act like kids at this time of year, secretly wishing for a miracle on New Years Eve.

The day drifted into evening, and again nothing happened. Alice realised shed forgotten to give Tom the present shed got for him a really nice, chunky, cornflower blue wool jumper. Spent a fortune on it, too.

She unwrapped it and tried it on, but it was massive. The shoulders were way too wide.

Probably would have been big on Tom as well,” Alice muttered, tossing it back in the bag.

Anyway, she put a bit of makeup on, promised herself there would be no more tears, and headed outside.

She always believed that the way you see in the New Year shapes your whole year, so better to wander the city streets a bit, rather than mope around at home feeling rubbish.

There was about an hour and a half until midnight, and Alice hoped that time would fly till she could just go back to bed.

It was miserable outside raining and everything. She ducked into the local corner shop, pulled her hand out of her pocket, and found Emilys list of instructions. Second job after the plants: feed the tortoise twice a week.

Alice suddenly panicked. With all her own drama, shed completely forgotten! Emily would have her guts if anything happened to that tortoise. New Years Eve or not, she sprinted straight to Emilys.

She unlocked the door with the spare key, walked in, and just stood there, speechless.

Every light was blazing, the fairy lights were sparkling, the telly was deafening. From the bathroom came more noises. Alice opened the door and, honestly, nearly screamed.

There was a man shed never seen in her life, shaving and humming away to himself.

First thought? Surely someones broken in, but who shaves during a robbery?

Who are you? she barked, trying to sound braver than she felt.

The man quickly rinsed his face, turned round with a big friendly smile.

He says, Hi dont worry, really. Im not dangerous. Im Ben, Emilys cousin. I live and work in Manchester but Im here for some meetings. Was meant to head back, but the trains were cancelled. Thank God I remembered my spare key for Emilys. She was lovely about it, said I could stay over.

Did you see the tortoise? Alice asked, suddenly remembering what shed come for.

He grinned. Yeah, Ive seen her. Even gave her some food. She wandered off over there, he pointed behind the sofa.

He buttoned up his shirt.

Right, lets do the introductions, Im Ben.

Alice shook his hand, told him her name. He held up two glasses and said,

Look, theres only about ten minutes till midnight. Why not see in the New Year together?

Without even thinking, Alice bolted out the door, dashed downstairs. Ben, looking completely baffled, followed her out.

Wait! What did I do? Where are you going?

Alice ran home, grabbed a bag the one with the big woolly jumper and ran straight back to Emilys.

She burst back into the flat just as the clock struck twelve. Ben handed her a glass of bubbly, and she gave him the bag.

For you, Happy New Year! Alice said, still a bit breathless.

Ben opened it, found the cornflower blue jumper, and tried it on it was the perfect fit, even the shoulders.

He grinned, Ive had plenty of New Year surprises in my life, but this is easily the best one yet!

Alice just smiled, thinking, Well, Ive had two surprises a breakup with Tom and meeting Ben. But she kept that to herself and just clinked glasses.

The next New Years Eve? Alice, Ben, and their baby daughter were celebrating together at his placeThe next New Years Eve, Emilys fairy lights twinkled again, and this time, Alice arrived earlytwo plates of homemade brownies, a just-nipped-from-the-corner-shop bottle of not-too-expensive prosecco, and the biggest grin anyone had seen on her in ages. Ben opened the door, wearing that familiar cornflower blue jumper, worn a little thin at the elbows now, and Alice couldnt help but laugh.

Inside, the tortoise dozed under the radiator, dreaming tortoise dreams, and Emilyfinally back from Cornwallwas laying the table, exchanging knowing looks with her husband. As midnight crept close, Alice found herself squeezed onto the sofa between Ben and Claire, all of them giggling at something ridiculous Ben had said, and the old pain of last New Year felt like it belonged to someone else entirely.

On the TV, Big Ben chimed, and Alice raised her glass, not needing to make a wish this year. She already knew the magic was real: sometimes, miracles stumble in late, wearing a strangers smile and a jumper meant for somebody else, and if youre lucky, they stay.