This short story is based upon the song North by Sleeping at Last. Listen while you read.
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The snow fell soft and delicately as the small car drove towards the all familiar town. He saw the school from his childhood, adorned with twinkling lights. The decorative houses with reindeers in the garden and lights on the roof. Displays which hadn't changed in 20 years. Children ran through the streets throwing snowballs at siblings and James felt a pang of sadness. This is what we looked like, he thought.
He glanced over to his wife, who smiled at him reassuringly. Her blonde hair fell around her shoulders and framed her beautiful face. She wore the Christmas sweater she always wore, even though James said it made her look dorky. Secretly, he admired her strong will.
He returned his gaze to the road.
He saw the sign. Willow Avenue. The blue house of pain, but happiness simultaneously came into view.
James pressed on the brakes slowly. Heather noticed.
"James, it's Christmas."
"I know, I know. But I don't know if i'm ready to face it."
"You're family."
With that last syllable, James parked the car on his parent's driveway.
He watched through the living room window as his brother and his parents set the table. The fireplace was lit and the flames cast a warm glow across the room. The tree in the corner, with the angel his sister made when she was five.
"It's time" James said to himself.
Heather and James walked hand in hand towards the place he called home. James took a deep breath in as he knocked on the firm, wooden door. His mother opened it. She drew in her breath and tears collected in her eyes. She looked pained.
Heather sensed the uneasiness.
"Mrs. Wilson, Merry Christmas." Heather smiled warmly at her mother in law. The mother didn't respond. She looked at her son, and then at his wife, all the while, her face was emotionless.
Mrs. Wilson noticed the baby basket Heather held in her left hand and instantly smiled. She began to weep uncontrollably as she motioned for the couple to come inside. She opened the door wide. Mrs Wilson had a soft spot for babies, they always made her happy.
James smiled so brightly. He felt the warm air thaw his frozen body and depressed mind as he walked to the table. His father saw him and smiled slighty. He was not one to show his emotions. His brother, Matthew hugged him strongly and whipsered in his ear.
"I'm glad you came back"
Mrs Wilson went to pick up her granddaughter from the basket.
"What's her name?" Mrs. Wilson asked inquisitively.
"Ella" Heather replied with a smile.
The whole room froze as the unspeakable name was uttered. James's mother looked off into the distance, clearly contemplating her thoughts. She walked over to her son and clasped his face in hers.
"I know I took Ella from you, but I thought I could bring her back" James whispered as his mother cried.
James begun to relive that moment. He was driving the car down the slippery road. His sister laughing at a joke he had forgotten now. The music was loud, Katy Perry blasted in his ears and his sister sang along.
"California Girls, we're..." James's sister sang.
"Ella, why do you even like this song so much? We're not even from California!" James yelled over the music.
"It reminds me of when we were in California!" Ella yelled back with a smile on her face.
That was the moment, his world changed. He hit the lightpole straight on, and it cut the car in two. Ella was killed on impact, but James was only bruised. He was the 'miracle', only he didn't feel like it. He killed his sister and he couldn't forgive himself for that.
"Thank you" Mrs. Wilson whispered to her son, with a small smile.
She walked back to the kitchen to prepare the meal and Mr. Wilson called upon everyone to sit at the table.
"Is there room for us?" Heather aksed.
"There'll always be room" Mr. Wilson replied.
The family sat at the table, with Heather next to James. She squeezed his hand under the table, and James replied by kissing her on the cheek.
Mrs. Wilson brought her homemade bread to the table and suddenly, the yeasty smell filled the room. Everyone sniffed in at the delicious smell.
James broke the bread for everyone.
Matthew uttered the phrase they said before every Christmas meal.
"Give us bread," he held up the bread, "Give us salt," he threw a pinch of salt onto the bread, "Give us wine," he raised the glass and everyone at the table repeated.
"Merry Christmas" James said as family love filled the hole left after his sister's death.
They ate the Christmas dinner with happiness and joy. Everyone chatted and got to know Heather. James sat back in the wooden chair and watched as everything in his life seemed to fall into place. He didn't believe his family would ever love him again after the accident 3 years ago.
Christmas is a special time of year, James thought.
As the night came to an end, the couple began to leave and the Wilson's greeted them out.
"Will we see you at New Years?" Mrs. Wilson said before they exited the house.
James spun around to face his mother, she smiled kindly at him.
"Of course, mum, we wouldn't miss it" James replied.
Once outside the house and the front door firmly shut behind them, James whispered to Heather.
"I love you Heather." He was so grateful that he'd followed his wife's suggestion to visit his parents.
"I love you too," she whispered back.
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Hey everyone! I hope you liked this short based upon an awesome song!
When I listened to the start, it reminded me of Christmas.
If you have any song suggestions, they would be greatly appreciated.
Make sure to comment and vote. BYYEEE
