09-13-2025, 11:44 AM
The next morning was bright and cheerful. Emily had turned on the lights to their tree after Rachel had fallen asleep. She hadn't stay up much later. Jared and Mara had stayed overnight in the city to give Rachel some space, but Emily had made sure to tell them that the endeavor was a success. They arrived in the morning. Rachel was still asleep.
Mara had immediately gone upstairs to see her sister, and stayed in the room for awhile. Jared had stayed with Emily, making sure she was doing okay. Emily had slept better last night than she had in weeks. The change in the house was palpable. The air was twinged with excitement instead of fear - with joy instead of grief. Mara came back downstairs, a big smile on her face. Even with Rachel being asleep, their was a physical difference in their sister. She was at peace.
Jared and Mara began to work on preparing for Christmas dinner, banishing Emily away from the kitchen. They knew that this had been hard on her as well, and the pair could take care of it. Emily was okay with this. It was nice to sit and not worry. She was glad they got to celebrate today.
The soft noise of movement began to emerge from upstairs. It seemed Rachel had woken up. Emily didn't rush to see her, letting Rachel move at her own pace. Finally a door open and the sound of feet coming downstairs reverberated through the house. The house almost became silent then, as if this moment was the most important. Emily looked as her sister descended wearing a light blue dress. She was wearing a dress. That was what set off the tears this morning. Rachel hadn't worn a dress or skirt since the ordeal with Lucio. It was just another sign that things were going back to normal. Emily stood and met Rachel at base of the stairs. Rachel smiled at her and wrapped her in a hug.
"It's okay, sis," Rachel said and Emily just nodded into her sister's shoulder.
Emily heard Mara and Jared approach, and let go, wiping her eyes. Rachel turned to face Jared and Mara and smiled brightly at them. "Merry Christmas, everyone."
Mara didn't speak. She just wrapped her sister in a hug. Now she was crying tears of relief as well. Mara held on for awhile letting go with a smile and Jared embraced his sister-in-law next. For the first time in weeks, their family was whole.
Mara had immediately gone upstairs to see her sister, and stayed in the room for awhile. Jared had stayed with Emily, making sure she was doing okay. Emily had slept better last night than she had in weeks. The change in the house was palpable. The air was twinged with excitement instead of fear - with joy instead of grief. Mara came back downstairs, a big smile on her face. Even with Rachel being asleep, their was a physical difference in their sister. She was at peace.
Jared and Mara began to work on preparing for Christmas dinner, banishing Emily away from the kitchen. They knew that this had been hard on her as well, and the pair could take care of it. Emily was okay with this. It was nice to sit and not worry. She was glad they got to celebrate today.
The soft noise of movement began to emerge from upstairs. It seemed Rachel had woken up. Emily didn't rush to see her, letting Rachel move at her own pace. Finally a door open and the sound of feet coming downstairs reverberated through the house. The house almost became silent then, as if this moment was the most important. Emily looked as her sister descended wearing a light blue dress. She was wearing a dress. That was what set off the tears this morning. Rachel hadn't worn a dress or skirt since the ordeal with Lucio. It was just another sign that things were going back to normal. Emily stood and met Rachel at base of the stairs. Rachel smiled at her and wrapped her in a hug.
"It's okay, sis," Rachel said and Emily just nodded into her sister's shoulder.
Emily heard Mara and Jared approach, and let go, wiping her eyes. Rachel turned to face Jared and Mara and smiled brightly at them. "Merry Christmas, everyone."
Mara didn't speak. She just wrapped her sister in a hug. Now she was crying tears of relief as well. Mara held on for awhile letting go with a smile and Jared embraced his sister-in-law next. For the first time in weeks, their family was whole.