The Christmas Shoes for Addison

"It was almost Christmas time; there I stood in another line
trying to buy that last gift or two, not really in the Christmas mood."

Addison walked off the subway and, towards the escalator. When she made her way up to the busy streets of New York City, she walked through crowds of people and, headed in the direction of her son's school. As she was waiting for Owen to come out of the building, her mind began to reflect on the days events.

She had; had back to back surgeries all day and, had been on call the night before. It was physically obvious how exhausted she was. Addison rubbed her tired eyes and, began to recall the fight she and Mark had gotten into the day before. She hadn't been feeling well for awhile and, had fought countless times with her husband; as to whether or not she needed to see a doctor.

"Addison, come on. Please be more reasonable about this!" Mark screamed at the closed door in front of him. "More reasonable about what Mark? It's my body, and I will take care of it myself!" Addison yelled back. Mark could hear his wife crying, and wanted desperately to go hold her and comfort her. But she had locked the door, so he decided to let her alone for awhile.

Addison's thought were interrupted when she saw Owen running toward her. She pulled her eight year old into a tight hug, as he began to tell his mother about his day. Addison pulled away from her son, and stood up. "Mommy, how was your day?" Owen asked his mother. "It was….busy." Addison said, not wanting to go into too much detail. "That's good." Her son replied. Addison took hold of Owen's hand as the two began to walk away from the school. She walked too the subway out of habit, but was clearly lost in thought.

When Addison opened the door to the brownstone apartment, Owen ran in right behind her. He threw his school stuff on the floor, and ran towards the television. "Owen Riley that is not where your school things go, please go put them in your room." Addison told the young boy. Owen did what he was told. Addison went to the couch, and lay down; she quickly drifted off to sleep.

Ten minutes later Owen was shaking his mother awake. "Mom, I'm hungry." He said, and gave her the puppy dog lips. Addison sat up on the couch, "okay what sounds good for dinner?" She asked him. "I want pizza." Owen said. "Okay" Addison answered and began to stand up. She would have fallen over at that moment if it hadn't been for the table in front of her. She grabbed onto the table, and balanced herself. "Mommy? Are you okay?" Owen asked, slightly confused. It took Addison a second to reply, but she did with a simple "Yes baby, I am just tired."

After dinner Owen was sitting at the kitchen table doing his homework. Addison was on the phone, when Mark walked into the apartment. "Daddy!" Owen screamed running over into Mark's arms. "Hey buddy." His eyes wondered over to his wife, who was sitting on the counter in sweats and a sweatshirt. She was on the phone and was clearly frustrated. When she looked over at him, she thanked the person on the phone and hung up. "Hey, how was your day?" He asked her, but was interrupted by Owen. "Dad, did you come home because mommy is sick?" The child asked. "No, Owen. Why do you think mommy is sick?" Mark asked his son. "Because she…" Owen started. "I'm fine." Addison finished for him.

That night after Mark had put their son to bed, he walked into the bedroom, where Addison was sitting on the bed reading. "Addie, are you really okay?" Mark started to ask. "I…I don't know. I made a doctors appointment for tomorrow, and Savvy agreed to pick O up from school, so that you can come with me. Mark noticed the scared look in her eyes. He raped his arms around her and kissed her cheek. "Everything will be okay baby."

"Standing right in front of me was a little boy waiting anxiously
Pacing 'round like little boys do
and in his hands he held a pair of shoes"