LOVE NEVER FADES

She was curious when she looked at the present under the tree – who was it from? It was just like the one last year and the year before that:  red and gold with a gold bow, Molly’s favourite colours. But this time, it was different: there was a note. 

Molly woke up in her room. It was quite and dark. She looked at the clock on the wall. The time was 6:00 a.m. Usually, she would go back to sleep if she woke up this early. But today was Christmas Day! There was a rule that they couldn’t open there presents until everyone was up. So, she just stayed in bed and remembered yesterday. The whole family: her brother, her dad and herself, had had dinner together. Today, they would go to Uncle Roger’s house and eat with their family. But Dad always liked to have a small dinner on Christmas Day with just themselves. She remembered what he had said.

“Tomorrow, we’ll go to the family dinner again.” He started when we were all sitting at the table. “I have even prepared a speech about Emily.” He said, surprising both of us.

“Dad you don’t have to do this” My brother told him. 

“No son, I can’t stop you from seeing the family again.  Plus, I miss them too” Dad said. He hadn’t let us go to the family dinner ever since mum died.

Emily had been a very nice woman, beautiful and charming. It was like you simply couldn’t be sad near her. It was as if her very existence was too joyful to let you feel anything but happiness. She had died in a car accident on Christmas Eve.

Molly had gone to the living room to wait for Mark and Dad. Dad woke up first and begun on some chores. When Mark got up, they could finally open their presents. And there it was the phantom present that was there every year. It was always a small gift, a toy, Or some small treat and it was always strangely warm. She flipped the note to read it and what it said was wonderful, doubtful and terrifying.

“For Molly, From Mum”