Every year, the same story. By the the first Sunday of #Advent, Helen was more frazzled than usual. Year end financial closings & budgets compounded her already busy schedule. Still she kept a brave face for her family, finding time to put up a tree and Xmas decor.
#vsschristmas

Helen ran out at lunchtime to buy decorative #reindeer that were on sale at Pier One. One her way out she called Accounting to remind them of their deadlines.

A feeble voice answered.
"He...llo."
"Oh sorry. I dialed the wrong number."
"Sally is that you?...Help."
#vsschristmas

"Umm...did you say help?"
"Help, Sally, please come."
"I'm not Sally, ma'am."
Her voice sounded weaker with each syllable. Shaking my head, I thought about my long list of work & home chores. The shopping. The #wrapping. The Xmas cards. The Year-end close.
"Please."
#vsschristmas

Thinking of all my to do's had already triggered #Christougenniatikophobia. I didn't have time for this.

I should just hang up.

Instead, I asked,
"Ma'am are you alone?"

"Yes, yes...alone...need help."

I took a deep breath.

"Can you tell me your address?"
#vsschristmas

"Don't call the police. They'll take me away."

I checked the address thinking,
"I'll have to put in overtime tonight at the office."

A tension headache came on as I dialed my husband's number.

"Honey, I can't get the Xmas #tree tonight. I have to work late."
#vsschristmas

My husband gave me a hard time about it.
"Boy, that job has turned you into a #grinch."
The old woman on the phone had sounded sick or injured. No time to argue.
"Whatever."
I arrived to the high rise building & looked up.
"Shit, she didn't say the apartment number.
#vsschristmas

A #flurry of residents entered the building as I hit redial.
A few rings.
No answer.
My stomach tightened.
On the fifth try her voice greeted me even weaker than before.

"Hel...lo?"

"Ma'am we spoke earlier. What's your apartment number?"

"I...I can't remember."
#vsschristmas

A new tension headache #sprout-ed.
"Ma'am, what's your name?"
"Alice"
"And your last name. I'm going to try to find you in the directory."
"Alice. Alice Lindsay."
"OK. Hang on. I'll be up soon.
In the vestibule, I found at least 300 names listed in the directory. #vsschristmas

I was distracted for a moment by the festive decor in the lobby. A bulletin board announced several Xmas activities. Someone posted a #mulledwine recipe. These only served to remind me of my long Xmas chore list before I turned my attention back to the directory.
#vsschristmas

"Thank God it's in alphabetical order. Found it! Apt 9 C."

By the elevators I heard the sound of Xmas #carols coming from a conference room

"Only 2 weeks till Xmas," someone said. "We need to get these harmonies right."

"Shit. 2 weeks?" I thought as I pressed 9.
#vsschristmas

I rushed down the hall to the apartment, pulse accelerating with each stride. My knuckles hurt from knocking so hard.

"I...I can't reach the door...key..mat."

The mat was holiday-themed depicting dancing #elves and Santa. Sure enough, I found a key underneath.
#vsschristmas

I turned the key. The first thing that hit me was the stench of soiled clothes and skin, juxtaposed against the cheery, albeit dated, decor. It had been some time since I'd seen a Xmas tree with old-fashioned #tinsel.

"I'm here."
The voice came from the bedroom.
#vsschristmas