Christmas Time In The City

Mom

Stella's eyes bolt open as the silence fills her ears. One thought fills her head as she pulls the headphones out of her ears. Christmas morning. She quickly pulled the blanket down and placed her warm feet on the cold floor. As you can tell, Stella loves Christmas.

She pads through the small apartment with the goal of waking up her mom. It's been tough since her father left them last spring, but they get by okay.

Stella decided to make her mom breakfast, considering it'll make her more eager to get up. The breakfast consists of coffee, waffles and oatmeal. She put it on a tray and carefully carried it to her moms room.

She lightly knocked on on the door before gently opening it, trying to keep the usual squeak down. Stella walked in and sat on the bed.

"Mom?" She called. "It's Christmas morning, wake up!" She said, a little louder. Was it just her, or was her mom too still? She dropped the tray, coffee and oatmeal spilling out. "MOM!" Stella shouted, shaking her mom. No response. Darkness takes over as Stella faints.

Stella's eyes bolt open as silence fills her lonely, padded cell. Stella smiles. "Christmas morning." She whispers.

-H