Rebecca with twin

The sun peeked through my bedroom window, casting a warm glow across my room. I sat up in bed, feeling the weight of yesterday's events. Rebecca was still in the hospital, and the twins were trying their best to be brave, but I knew they missed her deeply. Today, I needed to focus on making things better for them.

After breakfast, I called Jake and Lily into the living room. They both came in, looking curious but a bit worried. I took a deep breath. "Hey, you two," I said, my voice steady. "I want to talk about something important."

"What is it, Dad?" Jake asked, his big brown eyes searching mine.

I wanted to tell them how much their mom loved them and how we would keep her memory alive, even when she couldn't be with us. "I thought we could create a memory book for your mom," I suggested. "We can fill it with stories, drawings, and pictures of the fun times we've had together."

Lily's eyes widened. "Can I draw her favorite flowers?" she asked, her excitement bubbling over.

"Absolutely!" I replied, smiling. "And Jake, you can write down your favorite memories with her."

"Like the time we went to the zoo?" Jake said, a smile creeping onto his face.

"Exactly!" I said, feeling a sense of hope growing inside me. "We'll make this book beautiful, and it will help us remember all the love she has for us."

The twins nodded enthusiastically. I could see the trust in their eyes, and it filled me with determination. We were going to create something special together.

We set up our work area in the living room. I grabbed a big scrapbook and laid out colorful markers, stickers, and paper. "Let's make this a team project!" I declared, feeling inspired.

Lily jumped right in, starting to draw bright flowers and butterflies. She concentrated hard, her little tongue poking out slightly as she focused on her artwork. "I want Mom to be happy," she said quietly. "I miss her so much."

"I miss her too," I admitted, my heart aching. "But this book will show her how much we love her. Every time we look at it, we'll remember all the good times we had together."

Jake started to write down his memories. "I remember when Mom took us to the beach. She made the best sandcastles!" He grinned at the thought, and I felt warmth in my heart.

"That was such a fun day," I replied, picturing the ocean waves and the sun shining down on us. "She loved spending time with you at the beach."

As we worked, we shared stories and laughed together. The more we talked, the lighter the room felt. I realized how important it was to keep Rebecca's spirit alive, not just for the kids but for myself as well. This was a way for us to process our feelings and stay connected.

After a few hours, we had created several pages filled with drawings and memories. Jake had written about our trips to the zoo, the beach, and the time we had a family movie night. Lily's colorful drawings filled the pages, showcasing flowers, hearts, and even a big, happy sun.

"We're making this so special," I said, looking at our progress. "Whenever we add new memories, we can look back at how much we love her."

As the sun began to set, I glanced at the clock. "It's getting late, but we can work on this again tomorrow," I suggested.

Lily's eyes sparkled. "Can we visit Mom soon? I want to show her our book!"

"Yes, I think it's time," I said, feeling a mix of emotions. "We can take the memory book with us. It'll remind her how much you both love her."

Jake's face lit up. "Can we make her a big sign too? Like a 'Welcome Back' sign?"

"That's a fantastic idea!" I exclaimed. "We can make it colorful and bright, just like she is."

As we finished for the night, I felt a sense of accomplishment. We were honoring Rebecca in a way that felt right. I knew that keeping her memory alive would help all of us heal.

Later that evening, as I tucked the twins into bed, I could see that they were still thinking about their mom. "Dad, do you think Mom can hear us?" Jake asked, his voice small.

"I believe she can," I replied, stroking his hair gently. "When we talk to her, she knows we're thinking of her."

Lily added, "I want to tell her I love her."

"That's the most important thing," I said. "You can tell her all your feelings when we see her."

As I closed the door to their room, I felt a sense of calm wash over me. Tomorrow would be a big day. We would visit Rebecca, and I wanted the twins to feel confident and loved.

That night, I sat in my own room, thinking about what lay ahead. I closed my eyes and imagined Rebecca's smile, her laughter filling our home. I promised myself that I would do everything I could to reach her and show her how much we loved her. I would keep her memory alive and create a safe space for Jake and Lily.

The next morning, I woke up feeling energized. After breakfast, we gathered our supplies for the visit to the hospital. I made sure we had the memory book and some art supplies to create the big "Welcome Back" sign.

"Are you ready to see Mom?" I asked the twins, who were both a mix of excitement and nervousness.

"Yeah!" they shouted in unison, their spirits lifting.

On the drive to the hospital, I could feel the tension in the air. I glanced back at them in the rearview mirror. "Remember, it's okay to feel a little nervous. Your mom loves you so much, and she will be so happy to see you."

"I just want her to wake up," Lily said quietly, her eyes wide.

"I know, sweetheart," I replied, my heart heavy. "But we have to keep believing. Every little bit of love we show her will help."

When we arrived at the hospital, the familiar smells and sounds hit us. The beeping of machines and the soft chatter of nurses were all around us. I held their hands tightly as we walked down the hallway.

"Is she going to be okay?" Jake asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"I believe she will be," I said, trying to sound confident. "We just have to keep hoping and showing her our love."

As we approached Rebecca's room, I felt a wave of emotion wash over me. I opened the door slowly, and there she was, lying in bed with the machines humming beside her. Her face was calm, but it was hard to see her like this.

"Mom!" Lily called softly, rushing to her side.

I stepped in behind them, holding the memory book tightly in my hands. "We brought something special for you," I said, my voice steady despite the lump in my throat.

Jake carefully opened the book, showing Rebecca the drawings and writings we had created. "Look, Mom! I wrote about the zoo!" he said, pointing to his words.

Lily showed her the flowers she had drawn. "These are your favorite flowers!" she said, her voice filled with hope.

I watched as the twins poured their hearts out, sharing their memories and love. I could see the tears in their eyes, but they were smiling too. It was a beautiful moment, and I wanted to hold onto it forever.

As we talked, I leaned closer to Rebecca, whispering softly. "We're here, Rebecca. We love you, and we're waiting for you to come back to us."

Suddenly, I thought I saw a flicker in her eyelids. My heart raced. "Rebecca? Can you hear us?" I asked, my voice trembling with hope.

But she remained still, and I felt a pang of sadness. I took a deep breath, reminding myself that she was still fighting. I needed to keep believing for all of us.

"Can we make a sign now?" Jake asked, breaking the silence.

"Sure! Let's do it," I said, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. We gathered our art supplies and got to work, creating a colorful sign that said, "Welcome Back, Mom! We Love You!"

Lily added flowers and hearts around the edges, while Jake made sure the letters were bright and bold. "This is going to make her smile," he said, his face lighting up with determination.

"Every time we look at this book and the sign, we'll remember how much we love you," I whispered to her, holding her hand gently.

"You're not alone, Rebecca. We're all here waiting for you."