Twinkle, Twinkle

It was the beginning of a nightmare. One he'd had before and he didn't want to have again. His mother was calling him. He tried to go to her, but he couldn't. "I'm coming, Mom." He called back struggling to move, to go to her.

"Bobby, please."

"Mom? Where are you? I can't see you." He called.

"Over here, son. Where are you?"

"I'm here. Come over here. I'll help you." He called back in his mind. He was so tired and he still couldn't move. "Mom?"

"I'm here, son. I'm here."

Comforting arms wrapped themselves around his head and he snuggled into them. The scent was familiar, home, love, safety. "It's okay, Bobby. It's okay."

"You always took care of me. Even when I didn't want you to." His mom was telling him.

"You're my Mom. I needed to take care of you. I love you."

"I know you do. I love you too. I want you to do something for me. Promise me."

"What, Mom? You know I'll do anything for you."

"I want you to leave me now. I want you to put me behind you. Put Frank and your father behind you."

"No!"

"Bobby, listen to me. You did more for me than I had any right to expect. I know that. Even if I couldn't help myself I knew, I just couldn't tell you. So much I wanted to tell you and it all got jumbled in my head and I could never tell you all, but I am so proud of you, my boy. My strong one."

"I'm not strong, Mom. I'm scared. I need you. Don't go away!"

"I have to, you know that, but I'm not leaving you. I'm never going to go away entirely. I'm here for you, in your mind and in your heart. Do you remember that story I gave you when you were oh, about four years old. The Shiny New Star?"

"No. Oh, the one Frank spilled the syrup on so I wouldn't have it anymore?"

"That's the one. Your very first book. I am that shiny new star. Everytime you need me just look up in the sky and see the twinkling. That will be me waving at you. I'll be watching out for you."

"I'm sorry, Mom, I tried so hard to find a cure for you."

"Someday there will be, but for now it's too late for me. I just wanted you to know, Bobby. I'm Okay. And I love you."

"I-I love you, too."

"I have to go now."

"No, don't go."

"I have to. It's time. Be happy, my special boy. I'll be waiting for you when you get here."

"Mom!" he didn't want her to go.

"Bobby, I'm okay. I love you. Rest now. You have a lot of people to help and a family to work on. I want you to give me lots of grandkids. Beautiful, curly haired grandbabies. Don't let me down now."

"I won't. Mom?"

"Yes?"

"I always thought you were an angel."

Sleep claimed him then. Blissful, healing sleep.

When he woke up, Alex was there. She was looking worried. "How do you feel?"

He smiled at her. "I'm feel good. My mom was here. She came to tell me goodbye. She said she's okay now, Alex."

"You were delirious."

"Yes, but she was here. She said she'd be waiting for me when it's my time. She did have one request, though."

"She did?" Alex decided to humor him. "What was that?"

"That I have a family. Lots of curly haired grandbabies for her. W-Would you be willing to help me with that?"

Alex returned his big smile. "I think that would be a great way to remember your mother."

"Good. There's one more thing. Could we find a book? A kids book called A Shiny New Star? I want to give it to our kids."

"Sure we can." Alex replied puzzled.

Bobby grew drowsy again and as he drifted off to sleep he was humming "Twinkle, Twinkle little Star."

Complete