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Rhyleigh xoxox
The family greeting cards had been sent out, and the tree had been decorated for weeks. Presents lined the floor, and the advent drawers were almost empty. It was Christmas time in the Rafter house, and as usual, they had gotten into the spirit of things. It was a time of year for joy and cheer, but there was one member not feeling the spirit of Christmas.
Ben Rafter had wrapped his presents, opened his advent drawers, and taken photos with his family, but had lost the true feeling. The loss of a loved one could do that to someone, his sister had amended.
The loss of his wife Melissa, only weeks before the holiday, had definitely dampened the festive season, and not just for Ben. Melissa was part of the family- everyone adored her. If the festive season could grant him one wish, it would be to spend it with her. He would have given anything, just to spend one more day with her, just to tell her one more time how much he loved her.
On Christmas Eve, as they always did, they gathered in the Rafter house, before the big day arrived. Christmas was a time for family in their house, and Dave and Julie weren't going to have it any other way.
Nathan had little Ruby on his lap, as he read her the Australian version of The Night Before Christmas. He always had been the reader of the family, and was determined to pass on the trait to the baby of the family.
Rachel was taking photos, from her position on Jake's lap. She was lucky enough to have found love, after everything that she had gone through, Ben thought.
Ted and Chel were laughing over an inside joke, their friendship stronger than ever, upon Chel's return from India. Dave and Julie were just as much in love as they had been twenty seven years ago, when they first met. Carbo and Retta were cuddled up in the corner, laughing at Jake's jokes and Rachel's retorts, as Nathan's voice broke through the laughter. It seemed that he was the only person without someone to hold, that Christmas.
He had been assured that the hurt would fade, given time. All wounds healed, as time passed. But all wounds left scars; he knew that for a fact.
So Ben Rafter lay in his bed, long after his family next door and his housemates had turned off the lights, retreating to their own bedrooms. He lay in his bed, staring at the ceiling, as the minutes ticked by. The red numbers on the clock beside his bed glowed twelve a.m. officially Christmas Day, he noted.
He would give anything to spend one more moment with his wife. One more moment, to tell her how much he loved her.
"Merry Christmas, darling", he whispered into the darkness, finally closing his eyes and letting himself succumb to sleep.