‘I fuckin’ hate Christmas,’ he said, as we walked along Stephen’s Green in the cold night air, ‘It’s all greed. You see people shoppin’ and grabbin’. Do they really need all them things?’

I grinned.

Well I’m not buying presents for anyone.

I grinned some more.

Well, I’ll get my mum something.

I smiled.

… and I’ll get so-and-so something…

Who else, I thought.

… and my godchildren…

Yes, I thought.

But that’s it.

I already knew what I was going to get him. We stopped on the corner of Grafton Street and said our goodbyes. Just one more thing.

I love you. Very much. I offered.

He smiled. Gathering me to him he said: I love you.