Martha had planned this day down to the minute. Even though her daughter was born on December 24th, there was no reason to merge birthday and Christmas and celebrate everything on the same day. No, both had to be celebrated properly and so the little girl's birthday would be celebrated at noon and Christmas in the evening with the grandparents. Her daughter was not to be penalized.

Truth is, the grandparents in question have never gone for more than only single gift since Lily was born. As for Christmas dinner, it was always rationed and Martha and her daughter could be already consider themselves as lucky to be welcomed to celebrate Christmas like this. Them, who were so tired of life, them who already took it upon themselves to put on a great spread on this cold winter's day ! And Lily had only to behave herself ! No touching the trinkets that proudly sat on the mahogany buffet in the dining room, and even less the porcelain angel that the grandmother had placed on the table. This was not a toy. No tree, either. Too bulky, right ? So Martha prepared a tree in the small apartment. The apartment she had rented in haste a few days after her ex-husband had pulled out a knife to threaten her. A very small tree, but still big enough to put a star on it, and read in Lily's eyes dreamy and fascinated thoughts. The atmosphere was still as austere since the birth of her daughter, and things were certainly not going to improve with her father's hip problems.

Martha's heart ached at having to spend Christmas in her parents' big house, where she had always been half-welcome. This house that had seen her born and grow up... Spending Christmas under their questioning gazes that were surprised at the mess Martha had gotten herself into, well... How could someone who had received such a good education let herself be taken advantage of in this way by a man ? They preferred nevertheless not to openly express their perplexity, contenting themselves with touches of humor or acid remarks here and there to half-heartedly make the young woman understand that she was not really up to the task.

Martha, one weeknight, while Lily was at her father's, was looking at that ridiculous little tree blinking in the middle of the living room, which was also a kitchen and a bedroom, and she felt very lonely. She sometimes hesitated to go back to the family home and turn back and pretend that nothing had happened. Or maybe they could start couples therapy ? Then everything would be so easy again, so fluid, wouldn't it ? Like on the first day, when he sung to her with a mischievous air this song by Bob Marley with these words, which quickly became distant memories: "I wanna love you, and treat you well, every day and every night"... At other times, she would pull herself together and remember that the price to pay for this fluidity was very high. Promises never kept, lies, denial and he had ended up raising his hand to her when she had wanted to chase him out of the house. But it was her who had finally left, and in a hurry ! It is estimated that a victim of domestic violence will have to make an average of 7 round trips to become aware of the dangerous situation in which they find themself.