Larger Than Life {Remus Lupin}

7: A Christmas Miracle, A Holiday Curse

The assisted living facility was as bleak as to be expected, even on Christmas. It might have been a place only the well-off could imagine sending their loved ones to, but it was still white walls and hospital-esque beds past the lobby and common area. It didn't seem like a place a woman in her forties would have to stay, but yet Ella was here with her siblings and step-family who she barely knew anymore.

Terry gripped her hand tight and fumbled with the gift the two had picked out for their mother. "Do you think she went to the Christmas mass last night?"

"I imagine she would." Leonard smiled reassuringly, squeezing his shoulder. Ella hoped so. Mum was a devout Catholic, and if she hadn't gone to mass, that would mean she was worse off than ever. Leonard had his hair tied back and his nice dress shirt on, but Ella had dressed in her everyday blouse and skirt that made her feel underdressed.

Added on to the muddled mix if emotions she was feeling, the way Simon cast a glance she thought was laced with contempt toward Terry when he asked made her clench her fist closed tight with rage. She had honestly never liked him. He was a snob, and thought he was always right and everyone else was wrong and stupid. She pulled Terry closer to her and shielded him from her pompous step-father's view.

A moment later they were at her door, opening to a plain room with a bed with no sheets or pillowcases for safety purposes, a chest against the wall and a cross with a silver depiction of Jesus hung above the bed. The cross made her feel a bit better, knowing that Mum at least thought of her faith every day. Julia sat in a chair in the corner with a book, smiling widely in a way that Ella missed so much she could cry.

She was only forty-six, but she always looked much younger than her age. Her brown hair was cut short to just above her shoulder, and her bright blue eyes had a look of recognition in them. "Merry Christmas, kiddos!"

She knew it was Christmas, and that alone made Ella smile like her mum did. "Hi, Mum!" Terry practically sprinted into her arms as she walked to greet them.

The next hour was one of laughter and being among family. She unwrapped the small box that Terry had brought with him, and ran her fingers over the small figure of the archangel Michael. "This is beautiful, baby. Thank you, but I didn't get anything for you."

"That's okay! I just like being here with you." He held her hand in his smaller one and grinned, curls falling in his face. She could tell he was happy she was having a good day, when she could actually remember the important things. Like a Christmas miracle, almost.

"Yeah, Mum, you don't have to get us anything. Here, I made you a card." Ella reached into her coat pocket she had put over the chair and pulled out the card she had drawn. It was on stationery she had gotten last year that was so nice she only saved it for special occasions.

"Excuse me?" Julia scrunched her eyebrows close together in confusion. "I don't think we've met."

Ella's smile faltered and she hesitated in saying anything. It had flipped from good day to bad day, just like that, and her mind almost couldn't keep up. "No, it's alright. I'm-"

"I said I don't know you!" She began to look panicked, and Ella was shocked into silence. Tears clouded her vision. "Please leave! I don't know you!"

"Mum-" Terry tried to calm her down, but she pulled her hand from his and fled to the far side of the room, as far away from Ella as possible.

"No! Get out of here!" She was genuinely afraid and confused, shaking and folding into herself. "Leave me alone! Please!"

"N-no, wait-" Ella struggled against someone who was pulling her back. "Mum, it's me. It's Ella."

"I don't know who you are!" Julia shouted at her as she was thrown out of the room on her back. "Leave!"