Mileven Stories

Those Christmas Lights (1990)

The amazing & incomparable breathless_writer requested I write about El getting a common cold and Mike being extremely worried and concerned about her condition. (And that's exactly what happens, but I got inspired by the holidays and this somehow came spewing out within the past few hours — so here it is!)
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Mike and El had a funny way of paving a unique path for themselves. In fact, doing things untraditionally had become one of their most perfected crafts.

Every other incoming university freshman found themselves holed up in prison like dorms living off packs of microwave noodles. Thankfully, the couple was not suffering within that scenario as they had planned far in advanced to immediately move in with one another following their high school graduation. And with Hopper's assistance, that plan became reality.

El's protective father figured that if he himself could not keep an eye on his daughter at all times, that she would at least be just as safe under the boy's heart eyed gaze.

While Hop had offered to pay for all expenses during their first year, El was hellbent on getting a job so her and Mike could afford the rent on their own. And true to her word, that's exactly what she did. Each morning and afternoon, Eleven would work at a local daycare facility. Her main duty was to simply entertain the audience she gathered. Yet, she managed to do much more than that.

It seemed as though she was a child magnet. Infants, toddlers, and beyond were simply gravitated towards her warm nature. There must have been some quality about her that made the children relax and feel safe within her presence. It was almost as if Miss Ellie was a mystical princess taken straight out of the pages of a fairytale.

A few months into working there, Eleven noticed a pattern forming. As the weather grew colder, more kids were absent. The festive holidays were approaching rapidly, almost as fast as the common cold and flu seeped through the children's immunity.

One day while she was reading the Grinch to the remaining group of boys and girls, she felt a palm lightly yank on her bosom. When she looked down, she was greeted by big doe eyes.

"Ellie, I don't feel nice," whined a three year old boy named Henry.

El quickly put the book down and laid the back of her hand against the boy's forehead, immediately recognizing that he definitely caught whatever infection was bouncing around.

"Your mommy will be here soon and before you know it, you'll be home under fluffy blankets. Then you'll get to watch your favorite movies and eat warm soup until you're feeling good as new. I promise," she cooed assurances, hoping to make him feel more at ease for the time being.

She went to pick the book back up, figuring it would serve as a good distraction, but felt a small hand lay flat against her own, "can you hug me until mommy is here? I want to feel better in time for Santa next week."

For the remaining two hours of her shift, Eleven held on tightly to Henry. Then, after passing him along into the arms of his mother, she was on her way.

Normally, El loved her walks back home. She would essentially float while listening to the calming lull of distant traffic that echoed from the heart of the city. But this time, her head felt off-centered. The noise she heard wasn't very welcoming at all, rather it felt like an assault on her congested skull. Making matters worse, she felt her throat beginning to swell, limiting her ability to breathe exponentially. She had just reached her apartment building when she recognized that even the light from the street lamps were starting to unnerve her.