#XtremeApologies Submission

Part 8

I cried. It was happy tears and sad tears and my emotions where all over the place.

Infrount of me was a my parents grave. No, it wasn't just my parents grave. There was trees surrounding the cemetery. Every tree was lit up. It was beautiful. There were some with blue light and some with goldish white lights.

There was a table with ham, rolls, green beans, cookies, and mash potatoes. That was the meal mom made us every Christmas.

Ryan walked over to the table and lit two candles that were placed on each side of ham. The walked behind the table and bent down. I couldn't see what he was doing.

All of a sudden I heard my favorite Christmas song float through the cemetery.

"Rocking around the Christmas tree." I said in awe.

Ryan looked at me and smiled. He walked over to me and rolled me to the table. Beside me was my dads grave with mom right beside.

I looked at them for a while and then I looked at Ryan. I wanted to that him and hug him, but I couldn't manage to get anything out.

"Maddie," Ryan started. "I am so sorry for missing eveything. It's very hard to leave the base. I was trying to save up all my vacation time so at the end I can get out early. I wasn't expecting mom to pass." He looked down at her grave. "I decided we should have one more Christmas as a family. " He looked at me and smiled. There were tears in his eyes.

"Thank you Ryan. Thank you for this. It won't make me forget the times you never showed up, but it will make me remember that you do care."

"I always cared Maddie. I don't blame you for thinking I'm a horrible brother for missing my own mom's funeral, but I didn't feel, I don't know how to explain it, but I didn't feel like I was a good enough son. It's hard to explain, but I wanted to make it up to you, and mom by having one last Christmas dinner with them."

I smiled and looked at my parents' head stones.

"Before we eat this wonderful meal that I made all my myself," I looked at him and he gave a mocking smile becuase I couldn't cook to save my life. "Let's pray." Ryan finished.

Ryan took my left hand and we bowed our heads. Ryan started "Dear God, thank you for the wonderful day. Thank you for healing my sister and reminding me of what really matters, family."

He went on talking about mom and about helping him not burn the house down from cooking.

A cold breeze swept though the cemetery. It was getting chilly, but I didn't mind. I was having Christmas with my family.