A Christmas Wish

Quickly, Justin looks down at his side, wincing at the pain in his stomach. Carefully, he bends onto his knees to meet his daughter’s gaze, before she pokes him again with her Barbie doll. “What is my little angel up too?”
“Gettin eddy for miss mass Daddy!” she giggles. “Arby getting eddy too! See!” She points out to him that Barbie is dressed in a holiday outfit.”
Nodding his head in understanding, Justin asks,” What would you like for Christmas?”
Plopping onto the floor, she brings Barbie up to her ear, as if the doll is telling her the perfect gift idea. Content with her choice she stands wobbly, making her way into his warm arms. “Arby says Mommy.”
Softly, he strokes her blonde curls. Darling, I cannot bring Mommy home. She is with the angels.” Reaching to his side, he grasps onto a tiny box wrapped in gold paper. “I know this is only a picture of Mommy in here. It keeps her memory alive in our hearts. Every time you wear this remember Mommy is with you!” Wiping a tear from his blue eyes, he takes the gold locket from the wrappings, placing it around his three year-old’s neck.”
“I of you Daddy!” she exclaims embracing him.
He yelps softly. “I love you too Sweetheart.” Closing his eyes, Justin silently prays, as another sharp jab in his abdomen causes his body to jerk.
“Daddy otay?” the child questions.
“I’m just sore from putting up Uncle Joey’s tree. How about we put that star up on our tree, before naptime?”
Clapping excitedly, she rushes to the living room, with Justin going as fast as he can.

Painstakingly, Justin lifts her up to reach the tree’s top. Her mile wide smile, warms his heart, after the difficult year they had.
Dizzy, Justin heads to his room, after putting Jasmine down for her nap. His eyelids drop close, as his head hits the fluffy pillows. Sick or not, Justin would do anything in his power to make sure Jasmine’s Christmas was the best it could be.

His eyes open at the sound of his daughter’s voice. Moving slowly to a sitting position, he rubs his stomach, as he talks to his daughter.
Weakly, Justin stands, making his way to the bathroom, where he sees blood stains on his shirt. It drips from his lips, as he sighs.

Picking up the phone, he dials Joey’s number, telling him of his episodes. Joey offers to sit, while Justin goes to the ER to get things checked out, with another pal, J.C.

An ultrasound reveals minimal bleeding, and the doctor prescribes some medication to soothe, and heal his discomfort. His doctor orders him to rest, and not lift anything. Justin will need another ultrasound in 24 hours to view his prognosis.

The next day Christmas Eve, he returns to the hospital doubled over in pain. Taking medication to rid discomfort helps doctors perform his ultrasound. All he can do is wait it out.
At home, he cannot just sit still. He begins wrapping Jasmine’s gifts, trying to relax, and let the drugs take care of his pain.
His world grows fuzzy, showing the medicine is finally doing its part.
“Time for some sleep J,” he hears J.C. say faintly.

Waking to darkness, Justin slides out of bed, sneaking down the narrow hallway to check on his daughter. A smile forms on his face hearing his friends read a Christmas story to Jasmine. He tip-toes back to his room unnoticed by his friends.
He assures himself tomorrow will be better, and he will be able to play with Jasmine, and see her smile from ear to ear.

Blinking his eyes at the brightness, he yawns sleepily turning away from the light, but the intensity does not fade. Shutting his eyes, Justin senses warmth and comfort, as his daughter’s voice echoes something about his wife Lori.
His eyes shoot open in confusion at the womanly figure hovering at his bedside, and he begins to say something, as she hushes him with her finger.
“Only you and Jasmine can see me. You cannot speak to me when Joey and J.C. are anywhere in the vicinity. They will think your nuts.” she sighs. “I will not be here long, just for today. I was not expecting Jasmine to see me, but children are prone to things of that nature.”
“How do I see you?” Justin whispers. “I.I.I. don’t feel so hot.” His eyes water, “Jasmine will miss you even more now.” He mumbles drowsily. “I need to go check on her, and make sure she is alright.”
“Jasmine is going to be fine,” she assures him. “She should be coming any minute waiting to open presents!”
Justin chuckles, “I think Joe may beat her to that.” His eyelids droop. “Presents sound great right about now. All I see is the bright light.”
“Sorry, that’s mine. It will fade once I return to heaven.” She explains.
“Your daughter is in the room now,” she points out, as the light dims some.
He rubs the sleep from his blue eyes, coming out of his dream like state, and makes his way down the stairs with his daughter to open gifts.

The gift cherished most of all is not under the tree, it is sitting silently watching with a video camera in hand. When Justin asks what gift means the most to his daughter he is overjoyed by her response, “You Daddy.”
Something gently brushes his hairline, and he smiles, at his wife’s kind touch.