Hi. This is an idea that I had for a one-shot and this is the perfect time of year to write it!
A Christmas Without You
As I sit by the fire, looking into the flames, I start to think about you. I look over at the festively decorated Christmas tree. The group of presents are all for me and my family, and I have yet to do any shopping for you, and I only have a limited time left.
I start to think about you as I look back at the fireplace, seeing the five stockings hung there. I look at mine, then at our children's, then at yours, and I feel a sense of longing. A longing to see you. We've been together for so many years, yet now, I miss you so much, as though you've been gone for a hundred years…even though that's not saying much…
I know you're only going to be gone for a while, but it feels as though you'll be gone for an eternity. This Christmas won't be the same jolly one it was when you're here with me.
The children have all gone to bed, Kera insisting that you'll be back before she wakes. I nodded to her, smiling in that reassuring way you know and love, telling her she's probably right.
Koinu took a while to get to sleep, me having to read him three stories before I cuddled him close until he slept.
Machika went right to sleep after I tucked her in; the idea of waking up to presents making her fall asleep quickly. Silly child…
As I sit there, contemplating on whether or not I should make a mug of hot cocoa, the phone rings. I look over at it, wondering of who would call this late on Christmas Eve. I stand up and go over to it, picking it up. I say the customary, "Hello?" into the mouthpiece, and the person asks if this is Mrs. Taisho. I say yes, and the person says that they are the bearers of bad tidings.
As I listen to the horrible news, tears fill my eyes and a hand goes up to my mouth to cover my horror, though it barely works. I nod, then the person said they would come by in the morning. I say goodbye, then hang up, going over to the chair and slumping down into it.
The shock of this new piece of news hits me hard. I suddenly realize that you're never coming back. I knew I should have stopped you from going by yourself to go on the business trip. I knew I should have called you…but now, all of the "I should have"s I can come up with aren't doing me any good. I start to think of how I would break the news to the kids, all old enough to understand what death is.
As I sit there in the chair, crying my eyes out, I don't even hear the door open and close. Tears are streaming down my face as I think of how I would live without you. My eyes open in shock when a familiar embrace catches me.
"Why are you crying?" A voice asks. I pull away from the hug, then turn to see the last person on Earth I expected to see.
"YOU'RE ALIVE!" I shriek, jumping up and pulling him into a rib-cracking hug, which I quickly followed by a heart-warming kiss.
"Of course I am. What are you crying about?" He asks me again as he pulls away.
"Someone just called and said you were dead!"
"I don't see how that could happen. I'm standing right here, aren't I?"
I just giggle and pull him into another kiss. He sits down, then sits me in his lap. He nuzzles my nose as I go in for another kiss. Afterwards, I pull him close to me, thinking of how this Christmas could have just gone out the window in just five, terror-filled seconds. But all that doesn't matter now. You're here, and that's all that matters.
I just couldn't understand what it meant to have a Christmas without you.
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All right, this is my first one-shot. I hope you all like it! I know it's short, but I couldn't help it. I'll probably havemore one-shots to come!Can anyone guess who the guy was? Of course you can! You all know who he is with the hints in there I left you! Well, I hope you enjoyed it. Now, REVIEW DAGNABBIT!