We read this story and feel warmed by the woman's kind-hearted gesture. We are moved by the fact that she seems to need the connection just as much as Antonio does. We do get a sense though that this story needs more development... We wonder... why are they both alone? Why does Antonio have no friends or family? (there must be a good story there). Why is he so resistant to the holidays and intent on people working more? What did he share with the older woman? What changed for him? There also should have been more dialogue between the two characters, given that the story was about the time that they spent together. More show than tell would also elevate the piece.

Please could you use the #fiction tag in future for fiction pieces, and likewise the #creativenonfiction tag for CNFs.

Thank you for writing in The Ink Well.