Stories / Miracle in Manhattan. Ch1
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Candles have been used in cultures and religions all over the world for millennia, they represent light, hope, brilliance.

We watch them glisten on our Christmas trees, on our Menorah candles, and at our festive celebrations. We light them in honor of events and people passed. We use them as a mark of respect. They carry with them a hoard of symbolism; they are much more than a mere light.

But, inevitabely, they don't burn forever. Eventually that light must falter, and then it must go out.

Candles have been used in cultures and religions all over the world for millennia, they represent light, hope, brilliance.

We watch them glisten on our Christmas trees, on our Menorah candles, and at our festive celebrations. We light them in honor of events and people passed. We use them as a mark of respect. They carry with them a hoard of symbolism; they are much more than a mere light.

But, inevitabely, they don't burn forever. Eventually that light must falter, and then it must go out. Rachel Delaney knew this better than anyone.

A light had been cruely snuffed out in her life the day her husband passed. She often felt utterly lonely and empty inside. Life wasn't fair.

She'd been left in a mass of darkness and couldn't see a light at the end of the long winding tunnel that had become her life. As the first droplets of snow fell from Manhattan's brilliant winter blue skies, she thought of him.

The holiday season was swiftly approaching. She remembed the last Christmas she had spent with him, detail for detail. Every conversation, word for word. Every smile, every laugh. It had been a special time. "Okay that's the boys fast asleep and ready for Santa Claus, oh! You've laid out all their presents already!? Kenneth, I would have done that. You've had a long day at work, sit down and relax!" Rachel exclaimed.

Her husband smiled at her.

"I've got something nice for you. I'll get it while I remember!'' he answered, ''wait here''. He returned with a box, complete with a splendid red ribbon.

"This one isn't for Christmas'' he explained, "this is your birthday present. I'll be away on business on your birthday, I'm sorry, but I know you'll like this'. Just don't open it until your actual birthday, okay?".

"Okay" she agreed with a smile, ''thank you''. Her birthday fell just four days after Christmas, she would be 30 this year, a milestone. But she had more on her mind right now than her birthday, she had something important to say. "I have something to tell you" she started, ''and, I thought tonight would be the perfect time to do so'' "Are you alright?" he interupted, a concerned hand rested on her arm. He was a worrier. He always felt he had to look after those around him, whether it was a family member in need, or a beggar on the street, it didn't matter, he had a big heart.

"I'm fine, I'm fine'' she assured him. ''I have some good news", she took a deep breath, ''okay.. ready? ...you're going to be a Father again!''. He was speechless, beside himself with joy. All they had ever wanted in life was a big family. They were happiest when their home was surrounded with the laughter of their children. They lived for their kids and for eachother.

Rachel had assumed this was how life would always be. Yet, just a few short years later, her life looked very different. Her home was barren and dull beyond recognition. She'd had to sell everything, including the very carpet under their feet just to allow herself some extra cash.

To a stranger passing her apartment they would likely think to themselves that people who lived there had it all.

That assumption couldn't be further from the truth for the Delaney family. The plush abode that it had once been, overlooking central park with it's up-to-date decor and all its mod cons, was now just a distant memory.

But Rachel would never let anyone know she was struggling. She no longer invited friends back to her place for coffee, she met them outside instead. She made excuses if someone called at the door unexpectedly; ''I was just going out", "One of the kids has smallpox", "I'm on the phone right now, can we talk later?", these were some of her favorite lines.

She was proud. Far too proud to admit that after having worked hard all her days so far that she could now barely keep her head above water.

She missed all her material items, her comforts, her luxuries, but most of all she missed her husband. Was he watching over them, she wondered. Was he aware of the mess that their life had become?

 She often thought of a place her Grandma used to tell her about. Another realm.

The streets are paved with gold, and crystal blue waters shimmer like beautiful diamonds. Lushious emerald trees and mountains stretch as far as the eye can see. It's a land where the sun never sets and its inhabitants find rest for their weary souls, never to find sickness, poverty, or loneliness again. It's a place where friends can bask under the shade of a looming tree for as long as they please to do so. Time does not exist here. There are no deadlines and no pressures. Life is leisure, all the time. They can walk the riversides and reminisce, they can talk about the lives they left behind, about those who they eagerly await to see once more, some day. And, if the need arises, they can confide in one another.

"Perez. Can I ask you something? ...Do you worry about your family? How they're coping without you? Do you ever feel helpless?", one friend asks. The questioned man lowers his head, he walks a few steps forwards. Sometimes it hurts to remember life before this one. "Kenneth" he finally answers, "I didn't have any family. There was just me and my dog. And yes, I do worry about that dog. I miss that dog dearly. That sweet dog was my family.." "I'm sorry" Kenneth whispers, ''that's terrible..." "Terrible?" Perez repeats, spinning around to face his friend again. "It isn't terrible at all. Kenneth, a dog is the best friend you'll ever have. There's no creature so pure as a dog, he loves without condition, he never passes any judgement, he doesn't know how. And his loyalty? Well his loyalty knows no bounds.

I may not have had a roof over my head down there, or a bed to call my own, but I was richly blessed in life. My dog was a gift that I am eternally thankful for...society forgot me long ago, but I know my dog never has....I would often look at the people who passed me by on the street, with their expensive clothes and jewellery, and I could see the loneliness they suffered was far greater than mine. Their material posessions provided them no solace. I could see it in their eyes." Yes life was pleasant up above. But the men were still human. They harbored concern for those they left behind and they longed for the day they would reunite with those who had meant the most to them.

Until then all they could do was observe life from above and watch over those dear to them. And although she could no longer see him, touch him, or speak to him, Rachel firmly believed her husband was still thinking of her.

They were worlds apart now, but the pair would never stop caring for eachother.

She took comfort in the fact that her Kenneth was watching over her and of the feeling of assurance that she had eventually found in the park that day, a gut feeling of confidence that everything was going to turn out okay.

She knew it, deep down she knew it. Everything would, in time, be alright.

She can be sure of this, because she knows that true devotion to another person lasts more than a liftetime.

______________________________________________

Thanks for reading Ch 1. I hope you enjoyed it.

Miracle in Manhattan. Ch1

Dec 1, 2011 by oldmember_lucianna88
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    5 Comment(s) posted so far

    On Dec 2, 2011 spitzmagic wrote:

    This is a wonderful start. Very well written and I loved the screens. \:wub\:

    On Dec 2, 2011 spitzmagic wrote:

    Oh I missed the beginning one, but I found it..and loved it too. \:wub\:

    On Dec 3, 2011 Fikcija wrote:

    A very lovely story with a slight flavour of magic \:\)

    On Dec 4, 2011 Mangio wrote:

    Brilliant \:wub\: I loved every second. The screenshots are so gorgeous and it must be so hard for Rachel to make do without Kenneth. So beautifully written and i loved how you wrapped it all up. \:rah\: Can't wait for more \;\)

    On Dec 18, 2011 urm0m wrote:

    Beautiful!

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