Remembrance

The rain dropped furiously on the casket being carried by the four poll bears, Max Events, Kyle Valenti, Jim Valenti and Michel Guerin. Friends and family came from all around to say their farewells to the precious angel in the beautifully carved wooden box.

--Later that week--

The sun was shining, the birds were singing as Michael stood in front of her tombstone. His angelic wife was gone forever. Tears ran down his newly shaved face as he remembered his wife right after the birth of their daughter.

---

"Hey you," Michael entered his wife's hospital room. He was disturbed with the news the doctor presented him with.

"Hey your self." She smiled at him.

"How do you feel?" He asked and set beside her on the bed.

"A little weak, I guess, but that's expected, right?" He nodded. "So, how is she?"

"Sleeping like a baby." Michael smirked.

"Silly, she is a baby." She slapped him playfully.

"Yes," he approved. "Our baby."

"Michael, I have a request for you." She said and he nodded. "Let's call her Maria." Michael was about to protest but didn't when she placed her palm to his cheek and scratched it lightly with her nails. She always did that. "It would mean so much to me if you'd agree to it."

"Alright," he kissed her sour forehead. "Maria it is."

"Maria Guerin," she smiled dreamily. "That's how it was supposed to be."

"What?" Michael asked confused and paled.

"Michael, you know that I love you right?" She asked slowly.

"Yes," his eyes burned. Michael knew where she was going with this topic.

"You will survive with out me."

"What…"

"I over heard the doctor," she paused. "I know I have an internal bleeding and that they can't stop it."

"You'll be fine, baby." Michael laid his head on her chest and listened to her fainted heart bit. "I love you so much."

"Not as much as you love Maria." She corrected. "That is how it had to be." She whispered, closing her eyes.

"No, baby, please!" Michael's eyes filled with tears. He knew what would happen next. "Don't go! Don't leave me!"

"Maria Gue…"

'peeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep' Flat line.

---

He looked down and smiled gently at the sleeping baby in his arms. Now she was his angel. She would never know who her mom was: how beautiful and caring and giving and so perfect.

Michael looked at the curved marble placed over of what would be her head and read out loud,

"Isabel Evens Guerin

A loving daughter, wife and mother

'You will be missed and remembered, our sweet Angel'

June 20th 1982 – May 13th 2006"

Michael looked down at the little angel in his arms and smiled when the baby yawned lazily. "That's your mother, baby girl." He nodded to Isabel's grave. "I'm so sorry you won't get to know her like I have." Michael kissed his daughter's forehead lightly and then tensed when he heard some leaves and twigs crack.

"Michael," his best friend and brother in-law, Max Evens, spoke gently. "Everyone was worried after you left with Maria out of the hospital."

"I'm sorry I worried everyone," Michael faced Max. "It's just I really needed to be here and to…"

"I know," Max cut him off. "You don't have to explain, I understand."

"Thanks, Maxwell." He smiled.

Max bent down and kissed the head of his newborn niece who was slowly waking up. "Hey there, Ria." To his surprise, Maria sneezed pretty loud. "I guess she likes that pet name." Max straightened up.

"I guess," Michael agreed. "It's getting pretty chilly here."

"Yes, let's get her some place warm, okay?" Michael nodded. "The car is right outside, mom is waiting inside." They walked to the gates of the cemetery and Michael turned back and mouthed, 'I love you' before getting into the black Mercedes and driving off with his in-laws and daughter to a newer future.