Christmas Condolences

Sarah moves over to the couch, sitting beside Emma. She smiles softly and ruffles his hair. 

"Hey, little buddy. How are you feeling?" Emma looks up at her, a little more awake now but still tired. 

"I'm okay… I guess." His voice is quiet, and he looks down at his stuffed animal. 

"But sometimes my chest feels funny, like it's not all better." Sarah nods, listening carefully.

"That makes sense, sweetie. Your body's been through a lot. But you're so brave, you know that?" Emma glances at her. 

"I don't feel brave. I was really scared… And Dad… he was hurt too. I didn't know if we'd be okay." Sarah's heart clenches at his honesty. She wraps an arm around his shoulders, pulling him gently into a hug. 

"Being brave doesn't mean you're never scared. It means you keep going, even when you are. And you've both been so strong." Emma leans into the hug, finding comfort in Sarah's words. 

"Do you think Dad's okay?" Sarah's eyes soften as she glances back toward the kitchen, where Alex is staring out the window. 

"I think he's worried about you, just like you're worried about him. But you both went through something really hard, and it's going to take time. What's important is that you're together now." Emma nods slowly, feeling a little bit of that heaviness lift. He looks back toward his dad and whispers. 

"I love him a lot, but I don't want him to worry about me."

Sarah smiles warmly. "You tell him that. He'll want to hear it." 

Sarah stays for a little while longer, chatting with Emma and Alex, bringing some warmth into the house. Before she leaves, she pulls Alex aside once more.

"Just remember, it's okay to lean on people, Alex. You don't have to go through this alone." Alex nods, gratitude in his eyes. 

"Thanks, Sarah. I really appreciate it."

As she walks out the door, the house feels just a little less heavy. Emma's eyes begin to droop, and Alex pulls up a chair beside him, gently brushing his son's hair back. They sit in silence, but the connection between them is stronger than words. For now, they are home, and they have each other. That's enough.

The house was quiet except for the soft crackling of the fire in the hearth, the warm glow from the Christmas tree filling the room with a gentle light. Outside, snow blanketed the world in a soft, silent white, making everything feel still and safe.

Emma sat cross-legged on the floor in his pajamas, his eyes bright with excitement as he gazed at the pile of presents under the tree. His long blonde hair was unkempt and, in his face, Emma pushing the hair from his eyes. 

The familiar smell of pine needles mixed with the faint scent of cocoa in the air. He was still recovering, but the sparkle in his eyes was back. Alex watched him from the couch, smiling softly, his heart full of gratitude for this quiet, perfect morning. Alex's hair was trimmed but still parted in a man bun and a short, fluffy, brown beard.

"Merry Christmas, Dad!" Emma said, holding out a gift he had carefully wrapped. It was small and a little lopsided, but Alex couldn't help but smile as he took it.

"Merry Christmas, buddy," Alex replied, his voice warm. He carefully unwrapped the gift, revealing a handmade ornament—Emma had painted it himself, messy strokes of red and green forming a heart with the words 'Dad & Me' inside. Alex's throat tightened, and he looked up at Emma, tears pricking his eyes.

"Did you make this for me?" Alex asked softly. Emma nodded, a proud smile spreading across his face. 

"I wanted us to have something special on the tree. Just for us." Alex swallowed the lump in his throat and leaned forward to pull Emma into a tight hug. 

"It's perfect, kiddo. I'll keep it forever." They held onto each other for a long moment, the warmth of their embrace filling the room. It wasn't just about the gift—it was about everything they'd been through, everything they had survived together. The crash had shaken them, but here they were, together on Christmas morning, finding peace in each other's presence. When they finally let go, Emma grinned and reached for another present. 

"This one's for you!" He handed Alex a rectangular box with his name scrawled on the tag. Alex laughed softly. 

"You're spoiling me." He unwrapped the gift to reveal a framed picture of the two of them at the park, taken long before the accident. Alex is confused. 'Guess that's what he wanted to ask Sarah's help for… huh-' They were both smiling, carefree and happy, a memory from a simpler time. Alex's eyes softened as he ran his fingers over the frame.

"I remember that day," Emma said, his voice quiet now.

"We were so happy."

"We still are, bud," Alex said gently. 

"We've still got each other. That's all that matters." Emma nodded, his small hand slipping into Alex's. The room was filled with the quiet hum of the fire and the rustling of wrapping paper, but beneath it all was a sense of calm, of healing. They were still here—broken in some places, but stronger in others—and as they sat together, surrounded by the warmth of the season, both of them knew they'd find their way forward.

As the snow fell softly outside, Emma leaned his head against Alex's shoulder. 

"This is the best Christmas ever," he whispered. Only a few gifts under a cheerful tree, but it wasn't about that. Alex kissed the top of his son's head, his heart full. 

"It sure is, buddy. It sure is."