It was a quiet night as he slowly sat up in his bed. He lowered his legs and slid his feet into the standard issued slippers. They were too thin and crinkled when he walked. He stood, his body protested, bones popped. All those years of running around had finally caught up to him. He shuffled over to the chair next to his brother's bed. He sat down and situated himself so he was more comfortable. His brother had not been faring well recently. He looked at his brother, so peaceful while he slumbered. A burst of light from a bulb on the tree drew his gaze from his brother's face. 'Damn thing, ' he muttered to himself. He turned back to look at his brother. He grabbed his brother's hand; it was cold as ice. "No. Don't you do this to me not tonight. No. You can't. I've held on. I survived. You can't do this to me. Please. I still need you. " He squeezed his brother's arm with all the strength he had.
The pill bottles began to rattle first, then the whole dresser. Soon the whole room seemed to be rattling. The lights on the tree began to glow brighter one by one, faster and faster until only the star on top was left. With a crackle the star glowed brightest. A figure seemed to emerge from the tree. "No. You can't have him. You can't take him from me." The figure paused then began to materialize. His eyes widened. It was her, her black hair fell gently in loose curls just as he remembered. She had not aged. Of course not why would she?
"I am sorry for your loss, my love, " she said with a melancholy look in her eyes, "but I must guide him on to the next great journey. I requested specifically that I be his guide."
"Please. Please." He whispered pleadingly.
"His time on this Earth is past. He has lived a long and fulfilling life. There is not much time. Others want him too. " She glanced over her shoulder then turned to look at him straight in the eyes.
"Okay, " he whispered giving in. She was the only one he trusted with his brother. If not her, there was no telling who would come to collect...
"He will not be bound to the Earth as a spirit. I can promise you that much. " She then leaned to kiss him. Soft lips, like kissing pillows of clouds, an electricity shocked his heart. "It will be your time soon enough my love. "
She proceeded to sing a song of an ancient origin that possed no words. As she sung, her wings began to appear once more. Tendrils of light that shimmered. He was so focused on her wings and their beauty, he almost didn't see his brother standing in front of him. His brother in his twenties once more. It had been a long time since they were that age, so young and headstrong. "You may have a short time to say farewell and then I shall be your guide in the next life. "
"Goodbye brother. I will see you again, shortly." His brother hugged him and whispered "Merry Christmas" in his ear.
In a flash of blinding light they were gone. With a tear in his eye, he said "Merry Christmas Sam," to an empty room.