Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Lifestyle
Michael Sun

The Christmas that went wrong: I was 19 – and my best friend and a date stood me up

Michael Sun in a diner in New York City
‘The thrill of a new city emboldened me.’ Composite: Guardian Design; Sophie Winder; courtesy of Michael Sun

I was in New York to visit my friend, M, who had moved there a year earlier. She had an apartment with a spare mattress and I had a terrible fear of being alone over the holidays. It was a match made in heaven.

Except now it was the night before Christmas and I was alone. We’d made tentative plans to meet in Chinatown but she hadn’t responded to any of my texts or calls since my plane had landed a few hours earlier.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.