Forevermore

18

Christmas Eve

A kiss to my forehead is my wakeup call and I smile up at Hayden.

"Morning beautiful." He says and I yawn sitting up and pushing my hair out of my face.

"Morning." I mumble as he backs up.

"It's Christmas Eve." I say and he laughs nodding, "it is." He says and I jump out of bed and run into the bathroom to brush my teeth.

"There's so much to do!" I shout out the door spitting toothpaste out of my mouth.

"Like what?" He asks walking in behind me. 

"Christmas carols, pictures, Christmas candy, Christmas Eve takeout, the Polar Express, and probably some other stuff at some point." I say and he laughs wrapping his arms around my waist. 

"Sounds like a blast." He says kissing me on the neck then leaving the bathroom. I finish getting ready then run out and head down the stairs.

"Morning!" I exclaim and Justin looks over at me.

"Morning sis." 

"So, I have all the ingredients for Christmas candy ready to go." My dad says looking over at me and I clap my hands together.

"Amazing!" I exclaim and he laughs as I pull everything together.

~~

Three hours later while the Christmas candies and chocolates continue cool, I watch out the window as snow falls. 

"It's coming down hard out there." My dad says handing over a cup of peppermint hot chocolate to me.

"Thank you." I say and he nods.

"So, how have you been, Selena?" He asks sitting across from me and I turn to look at him.

"Honestly? I've been incredible these past few weeks. Earlier it was hard and I struggled some, but I'm good now." I say and he smiles.

"I'm very glad to hear that. I know I haven't been much apart of your life since your mother passed."

"And I was angry and hurt, but I understand now dad. We all grieve differently, yours just happens to be in a way that separates you from what's hard. Believe me, losing mom was the hardest thing ever." I say and he nods.

"It was, but that wasn't what made me walk away." He says and I look over at him confuses.

"Then what was?" I ask

"The fact that every time I would look at you, I would see your mother looking back. It got to the point where I couldn't see my daughter anymore, I only saw your mother. And that was, remarkably hard. I was hurt and torn, it felt like a constant reminder every time I would look at you of what we lost, and I'm so sorry. It is not fair, I know and I will work my ass off every day to make up for the time we lost. I hurt your brother too, and we're fixing our issues right now, and I hope you and I can too." He says and I smile a tear falling down my cheek.

"I want too, and I hope that we can." I whisper and he smiles standing up and walking over to me. I smile as he hugs me then slowly moves back.

"I love you, Selena."

"I love you." I whisper and he smiles then leaves the room.

~~~~