Moments with Michael

Dreams at Christmas - part 2

I wake up slowly, and for a moment I just lie in bed, enjoying the feeling of not having to get up and go to work. Then I all of sudden open my eyes wide and sit up.

It's Christmas. It's Christmas morning right now!

With a big smile, I look beside me where Michael is sleeping.

"Michael! Michael wake up! It's Christmas!" I yell excited.

He slowly opens his eyes, with a very confused expression on his face. He then looks up at my excited smile, and in a matter of seconds, it seems to fall into place in his head. He sits up, smiling just like me.

"It's Christmas!" He exclaims happily.

"Yes it is! Our very own, special Christmas. Just you and me." I say with a dreamy tone in my voice. He responds with a big, beautiful smile and sparkles in his eyes, before he bends down to kiss me softly on the lips. I put my arms around his neck, not wanting to ever let go. But way too short after, he breaks apart from me with a little smile.

We quickly get up from the bed and hurry out in the living room in our pajamas. Mine is pink with small white dots, and maybe more for a little girl. But it's comfortable and I like it, so I wear it anyways. Michaels is yellow with black borders, and a bit big for him. But he says he likes it, that it feels cozy. Understandable - I've always liked oversized clothes too.

When I open the door to the living room, I stand still on the door step for a second, totally in awe over our beautiful Christmas tree. And when Michael stands behind me and takes my hand, squeezing it with excitement, I can't help but smile wider than ever. I slowly walks into the room, not letting go of his hand. It's amazing how much more magical everything becomes when he's here.

I look up at Michael, and he looks back into my eyes, smiling like a little child.

"You want your present now, or would you rather wait till we've had breakfast??" He asks

"Hmmm" I say, pretending to think about it. "How about we make breakfast now, and then it's ready when we've opened the presents??"

"Sounds like a good idea to me!" He answers, and begins walking towards the kitchen. I follow him, still holding his hand.

We help each other making pancakes and cutting strawberries and finding juice in the fridge. It doesn't take long, as we made the dough for the pancakes yesterday. When it's all ready, we take it into the living room and arranges it nicely on the coffee table. Michael then looks at me with excitement in his eyes.

"So, can I give you your present now?" He asks.

"Okay. But I'm gonna go get yours too!" I reply with a big smile on my face.

"Okay" he says, looking at me with a happy glimpse in his beautiful, chocolate brown eyes. They look so deep... I could get lost in those eyes for days! But for now, we break the eye contact as he turns away to open a little cabinet, and I runs to the bedroom to get his present. I have to stand on the tip of my toes to push the T-shirts to a side and take out his present from my closet. I look at it for a moment, thinking about how he will react to it. If he will like it. Then I quickly closes the closet again and hurry back to the living room.

Michael is standing there, with a big smile and both hands behind his back. I look around him with curiosity, trying to see what he's hiding. He just turns a bit so I can't see it. I do my best to look offended, but of course I end up laughing. Michael just rolls his eyes at me. Then he hands me the neatly wrapped present. It's small, not much more than three inches, and wrapped up in beautiful gift wrapping paper, white with hundreds of tiny, golden diamonds on it. I carefully take off the paper to expose a small, black box.

I look at him with both curiosity and excitement, and he gestures to me to open it. So I do - and I find the most beautiful bracelet I have ever seen. A gracefully plaited chain of silver and gold strings, and a silver butterfly hanging from it. My eyes almost tear up. I turn to Michael and hugs him tight.

"Thank you so much Michael, it's so beautiful!" I whisper to him.

"You're welcome. Anything for you." He answers with a smile and a light kiss on the top of my head. "But you haven't seen the best yet!"

He carefully turns the butterfly around, and I see an inscription on it.

"So you'll always remember" Michael says with a little smile.

I smile back at him, and he kisses me lightly on the cheek. I look him in the eyes, then look back at the three, small words, engraved into the back of the butterfly.

I love you

"I love you too, Michael" I tell him, my voice shaking a bit because of all the emotions behind my words. I truly love him, like I've never loved anyone before. And highly doubt I ever will again. He's my one and only.

He helps me get the bracelet on, and I can't help but admiring it all the time. The only piece of jewelry I have ever had, that can compare to this, is my wedding ring. Which I also got from Michael.

I put the wrapping paper to a side, and looks at Michael.

"Are you ready to get your present?" I ask, and he instantly nods, an excited smile showing on his face.

I give him the not-so-pretty gift, wrapped up in red paper and black curling ribbon. He just looks at it with happiness, trying to get the paper off without ruining it. He gets it off, and then he stands with it in his hand. My special treasure, only for him. My book.

I have all my life dreamt of writing a book, and since Michael is a dream that came true to me, it only seems right to give my book to him. A dream to a dream.

He gasps silently at the sight of it. The front page is red with the words "Stories and fairytales" written on it in sweeping, golden, font.

He flicks through the pages, seeing every story on them, just waiting for him to read them. And then he reaches the last page. A note from the author.

To my dear Michael

You have brought so much magic into my life,

and I'm you forever thankful for that.

I love you so much, and my only wish is for you to love me back.

This book is my way of giving back some of the magic you have given me.

May you always be happy.

With love, Gry

He looks up at me after reading it, and to my surprise, there's tears in his eyes. He hugs me, holds me tight without saying a word.

"I love you too" He finally whispers to me, his voice clearly showing how moved he is. "And I always will, I promise you that." He let go of me, and sits down on the floor. I sit down too, and he looks me directly in the eyes.

"Gry, you are the magic in my world. I'm just reflecting some of it, that's all. You only see a small reflection of the magic you are"

I just sit there, not knowing what to say. After a few moments I pull him in for a hug, holding him tight like he did to me before. We sit like that for a while, before I finally let go of him. I give him a small peck on the lips, before standing up and going to sit in the couch. He sits down beside me, and we eat while talking about our presents and thanking each other uncountable times.