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Date Posted: 05:53:35 12/05/13 Thu
Author: mj
Subject: Light of My Heart, cont'd

Forty minutes later,

Harm quietly opened the door, juggling two big bags full of groceries and Mac’s meds and supplies and his sea-bag slung over his shoulder against his strong body. Before he unloaded all the bags, he peeked over toward the couch. Thank goodness, Mac was fast asleep and looked like she hadn’t moved an inch from the position he had left her in – only her head lay back against the pillowed arm of the couch. He walked into the kitchen, setting the grocery bags down. He removed his shoes and his seabag and tip-toed over to the coatrack area to place his belongings there as he slung off and hung his coat. Heading back to the kitchen, he swiftly put the ice creams in the freezer and the cold foods and drinks in the fridge. Next, he used the washroom and, then, quickly went back to her bedroom and drew down the bedcovers.
He, then, made his way back to the living room. He clicked the TV off. He turned to the now crackling fire to warm his hands. Next, he got down on his haunches next to Mac. He looked at her face for a couple seconds. The swelling and redness had gone down considerably. She looked so peaceful – almost glowing. He stood and then very carefully squatted down to lift her into his arms.

Suddenly, Mac, eyes still closed and still fast asleep, started to mumble and slur – her only sign of the small disruption, “a friend, a friend….the prince…. nutcracker…he’s a prince…friend…Harm…Harm… accident…a friend….the prince…a friend”. She stopped as abruptly as she started and fell back into a deep sleep. Harm carried her onto her bed and lay her so that her sling was on top of her and her head was slightly raised off her pillows, as the doctor had ordered. He tucked her in – took one last look and lovingly murmured, “Sweet dreams, Sarah -- my dear friend….my princess.”

He marched out to the hall and put his coat and shoes back on. He went back down to the car and hauled up the small tree, the wreath, and the mistletoe that all had been left abandoned at the supermarket parking lot. He quietly pulled out the box from the back corner of the room and got to work decorating the tree and the mantle and hung the mistletoe above the front door entrance. He turned on the twinkle light switch, just to make sure he had evenly dispersed them on the tree and the mantle. Perfect – the place looked magical and Christmassy – just the way Mac always made it all the years before. He left the angel for the top of the tree on the coffee table. He and Mac would put that on together when she woke in the morning. He gathered the gifts on her desk and put them under the tree and took the bag of presents he had also brought up from his car and took those out and placed them under the tree. He made himself a cup of hot cocoa – just straight up – he would save the mini-marshmellows and lashings of whipped cream with the cherry on top for tomorrow to share with Mac. He reveled in his handiwork. He hoped Mac would be happy about it. He wanted desperately to make her happy. All the times in their lives, he had made her sad or upset or hurt – he wanted to start to make her happy. He could’ve lost her tonight – but he didn’t. He could have lost her many other times in the years that he had known her, worked with her, longed for her, loved her – but he didn’t. So many years, so much wasted time. But, was it? They were still here and they were together tonight. With mug in hand, he sat down on the couch and gazed at the fire waiting for its last glows to dim for the night. He picked up a book from the coffee table. Mac had obviously been reading it as there was a bookmark on one particular page – it was a poem. For some reason, he eyes zeroed in on one stanza”

‘It’s a good way to live. And when we
sit at the end of the day, our hearts
light the center and we see each other
in its radiance. I can tell, it reminds you
of many circles you’ve been a part of.
It’s a good way to measure time.*

He stood, brought his empty cup to the kitchen and padded to the bedroom. He undressed to his boxers. He slipped into the bed, far enough from Mac so as not to disturb her, but close enough to keep an eye on her. He was shirtless as it was so warm in the apartment, but he would wake up way before Mac to put the twinkle lights on and to prepare his Rabb Christmas pancake breakfast.. He looked over to her as he quietly whispered,

“It IS a *great* way to live. Being a part of the many circles of your life has certainly been a good way to measure time. We still have plenty of time left -- together, Marine – I promise.”

He couldn’t wait to see her smile in the morning.

*from “For Joel at 97’ by Mark Nepo, 2009

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Replies:

[> loving reading this again MJ -- Bev uk, 06:26:05 12/05/13 Thu [1]


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[> Painting a lovely picture mj, Harm truly a 'prince' among men -- JoyZ, 10:05:45 12/05/13 Thu [1]


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[> I am enjoying this, don't remember it from before so it's a wonderful "new"story for me. Thank you for reposting -- usmgrad, 12:26:44 12/05/13 Thu [1]


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[> Wonderful story thanks for sharing. -- Beth, 13:47:05 12/05/13 Thu [1]


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[> Am so enjoying this new to me/repost story. -- carramor, 22:35:59 12/07/13 Sat [1]


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