Our Tainted Dream

Twenty: Beyond Happy

My father, my dad.

The tunes rang in my ears as he sang me the song, snuggling me into the warmth of the blanket. The stars glimmered outside the window, a dark canvas painted with beautiful constellations.

His voice was deep and soothing, it was so nice. It was so peaceful.

A few months passed and winter arrived.

Every day he would sing me to sleep, read me stories or make hot chocolate to make me feel better. When he returns from work he never frowned, always ready for a hug.

"Reid, come here for a while?" He called, waving his hand from the workplace. Without hesitation, I nodded, running towards his voice.

He crouched down at one of the boxes next to the desk as I made my way next to him. "What is it?"

He smiled at me, going through some of the things in the box. He took something, quickly hiding it behind his back.

"I love stuffed animals. They're so cute and fluffy, don't you think?" I nodded... "I used to have one when I was little, but I'm old now. And it doesn't suit for me to play with such things anymore."

He held a teddy bear in his hands. Old but adorable. A small top hat rests on its head, a bowtie on the neck and two round blushes on its cheeks.

"So, I want to give it to you. When I get home late, and I'm not here to sing your songs when you sleep, you can hug it instead. It kept my nightmares away. I'm sure it'll keep yours away as well.

"Oh..." Is all I could say. Tears couldn't describe how grateful I was. When I smiled, the happiest smile I've ever given him, he did the same.

I wished time never existed. We could stay this way. A 'father' and a 'son'.

The bed creaked as I lightly jumped on it, pointing at the sky through the window. "Sir, Sir! Look, it's snowing!"

He handed me the hot chocolate, and I quickly sat back down, taking small sips before standing once more, jumping and pointing at the window. "It's snowing, it's snowing! Sir, it's snowing!"

He let out a gentle laugh at my childishness, the corner of his eyes wrinkling at how wide he's grinning. "Okay, okay, calm down." He laughed, taking a sip of his own mug of hot chocolate.

But it only excite me more, "Can we go outside? I've never touched the snow before." His brows raised in surprised, his lips curling into a small 'o'.

The trees outside were covered with snow. What's left of it, at least. Nevertheless, it was a beautiful sight.

Sir stood up, scraping the chair against the wooden floor while I ran towards the door, opening it and feeling the cold breeze of the winter air. It's wasn't violent, but rather soothing.

Without a second thought, I stepped onto the snow. It was so soft and fluffy. That was... until the cold kicked in.

"No, no, child, don't go out like that. You'll get sick." Sir laughed, picking me up from the snow before lifting me up from under the arms, putting a small kiss on my reddened nose.

He put a pair leather gloves on my hands, a pair of ankle boots, a coat and a dark blue scarf. He wrapped the scarf around my mouth and nose, burying half of my face in the soft fabric.

I tugged it loose, enough to let him see the smile beneath. When he patted my back—the signal—I run into the snow again.

I picked it up, letting it break against my fingers. Sir sat on the bench outside the cottage, tying the laces of his boots, his hands covered with a pair of gloves.