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Post by Dizzy on Dec 14, 2020 1:42:27 GMT
Excellent Work wolf Sister i Have Really Enjoy this! WUITIIQGUyMrvFxIgkNw
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Post by wolf on Dec 14, 2020 1:48:43 GMT
Excellent Work wolf Sister i Have Really Enjoy this! 
But it's not all me,
I'm just posting the Parts of the Story.
DIO has done really AwWwrrrrrsome work in all of this!
It IS based on one of his ideas he had for the Halloween Story.😊
So very happy you're enjoying it all Diz! olfEOEbpO0rxuamBULVg smilie_xmas_32u |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 14, 2020 2:08:52 GMT
Excellent Work wolf Sister i Have Really Enjoy this!
But it's not all me,
I'm just posting the Parts of the Story.
DIO has done really AwWwrrrrrsome work in all of this!
It IS based on one of his ideas he had for the Halloween Story.😊
So very happy you're enjoying it all Diz!   We're at 6 already? Where have I been? Seriously, thank you for the kind words wolfie. 🤔😉🤗 |
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Post by wolf on Dec 14, 2020 2:25:33 GMT
Awww thanks lil Sis!
But it's not all me,
I'm just posting the Parts of the Story.
DIO has done really AwWwrrrrrsome work in all of this!
It IS based on one of his ideas he had for the Halloween Story.😊
So very happy you're enjoying it all Diz! We're at 6 already? Where have I been? Seriously, thank you for the kind words wolfie. 🤔😉🤗 |
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Post by Dizzy on Dec 14, 2020 3:15:08 GMT
Oh Ok Much Respect to diobolic as Well You Did a Great Job Too! An Cool Ideas Too Dio! Thanks You Both for Sharing this Awesome Story!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 14, 2020 3:25:34 GMT
Oh Ok Much Respect to diobolic as Well You Did a Great Job Too! An Cool Ideas Too Dio! Thanks You Both for Sharing this Awesome Story! |
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Post by osnafrank on Dec 14, 2020 18:00:48 GMT
Great Job folks, excellent Story. applouse
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Post by wolf on Dec 14, 2020 19:36:11 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 14, 2020 19:47:57 GMT
Great Job folks, excellent Story.  |
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Post by wolf on Dec 15, 2020 16:19:22 GMT
"Back in time for Christmas"
(Part VII: Day 4 of 13)
Tuesday morning. The heavy snows had blown in just as the news had predicted. The Bose clock radio had been set the night before, same as it always was, just like the coffee maker and the thermostat on the hall wall. Those latter items did exactly as they were supposed to.
Lydia woke to knocking on her bedroom door and Amanda entered her room, "Mom, you overslept." Her mother opened her eyes, coming out of deep dreaming sleep and looked at the clock. 8:00 a.m. it read. The dream was fading rapidly, she only had a memory of a shadow figure walking. Towards her? Or was it away from her? Didn't matter, it was gone now. "Oh, it's late!" she told her daughter, "Why'd you let me sleep so long, kid?" Amanda put her a mug of coffee down on the bedside table, "Don't worry, you must have needed the extra sleep. You didn't wake up on your own like you usually do, Mom. Besides the snow plows are only now getting the main road cleared, we can take our time." Lydia crept out of the covers and sat up, the room felt good and warm, and the coffee was a godsend. She really did not like getting up later than she wanted to, it always tended to throw her day off. This did not feel very right to her at all. Especially that the clock didn't go off, she KNEW she had it set. "Thank you for bringing me this, hon. I love you." Amanda smiled, "I love you too, Mom. Go take your shower and get ready. I'll make us some English Muffins with melted cheese and Strawberry jam. That okay?" Lydia nodded, "Yeah, that sounds good." Amazin' Grace left her to it, and went back down to the kitchen. Waking up in a haze this way and being late was going to make her daily routine a trudge ever so considerably heavier. And Lydia began preparing herself for any new and 'off' events with heartaches and heartbreaks, that might come. That was the sullied mood feeling she had already, and she hadn't even got up off the bed yet.
This morning she was really feeling the absence of the preceding days developments that she had so quickly become accustomed to. She would much rather spend the day in bed if circumstances didn’t dictate otherwise. She sighed and remembered the phantom hands and fingers running over her arms, the morning before when she had been so cold. How fortunate she was to have had that comforting touch. That was when Lydia felt a gentle arm around her. And there it was, all of a sudden she felt that tingling again. She realized it was a gentle force she felt. That slight ethereal pressure of the spectral presence pulled her against its side for the warmest and most love-filled hug she had ever felt. That made all the difference in the world to her right then, and she felt like she could go on and get through this day. She whispered to herself, "Oh Will....you always were my strength and inspiration." She got up and went to the bathroom, phone in hand, and took the usual hot shower. It was an off day for sure, when Lydia didn't turn the radio on first thing in her morning.
When her shower was finished, she came back into the bedroom and tossed the phone on the bed, as soon as she did the camera's flash went off in that extra bright brilliant way. That helped to lighten her mood a bit more, and she did have to smile. She opened the pictures up and found another really beautiful one of Will. It was of the memory she'd had that first Black Friday night in front of the fireplace not too long ago. Will, sitting in front of a roaring fire, his face lit by the flames. And Lydia felt even better and warmer. She chose her days attire. Dressed and headed down to the kitchen. Not long after, she and Amanda were on their way to the hospital, a long slow careful drive, with Amanda playing some of her music on her phone for a change. The morning went by with reading and Amanda talking to Richard. Lydia didn't want to talk too much, she was preoccupied, with things on her mind that was she turning over and over again, like a raccoon meticulously washing a morsel before finally devouring it. The 'thermostat dilemma day' before, Lid had brought a lunch for herself and Amanda. So today was a day for the good girl to get out, bundled up properly, all coated and hatted, and go romping downtown.
Alone with Richard, Lydia couldn't seem to delve back into the book she’d been reading to him as she normally did. She set the book down on her lap and closed her eyes. Tilted her head back and let out a deep frustrated but cleansing breath. She was locked in that dramatic intense pose for what seemed like an hour, but in reality it was only a few short minutes. The wheels were in motion. Lydia slowly opened tired eyes, as if she were awakening from the most glorious sleep she’d ever experienced, and still gazing upward she said with a voice crackling from trepidation, “Dickie! We have to talk.”
She was going to go about telling Richard things he needed to hear, especially now that he HAD to listen, and not storm out of the room and refuse to engage in discussion or even argument. Nor could he ignore her, or ever so rudely interrupt her, and talk loudly over her. Or down to her, as was his usual custom when hearing things he didn't want to from her. "Well, I've got you now Richard. You can't walk off and ignore me. You can't shout me down and shut me up. You HAVE to listen and keep your damn mouth shut for a change....you boorish a$$hole. You don't get everything YOUR way today."
And she went on carefully and methodically quoting....
“And therefore as a stranger give it welcome. There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.” She opens with her held-in-for-far-too-long soliloquy. “You wouldn’t have any clue what that means Richard because you couldn’t give two sh!ts about literature, fiction, adventure, romance or anything else other than the boring garbage books and DIY magazines you read. I have nothing against them but why the hell don’t you ever put them to use? Sorry, I digress, I’m doing a lot of that lately. Let me explain it to you. Shakespeare wrote that about Hamlet, because of an encounter with the ghost of his father, and it means that no matter how great one’s education, even the most learned of men cannot explain everything. He was having a hard time swallowing the whole experience because ghosts were not the sort of thing easily taken into account and rationalized. And I am experiencing the same sort of thing, Richard.”
"Someone from my past is trying to communicate with me. I know that now. Someone not with us anymore. And you know who it is… Because it is the man I loved before you. And for some unknown reason you felt you couldn’t compete with a dead man. And in one evil and vindictive moment you caused me to lose all respect for you. You never had allowed me to value my belongings or the things I felt were precious. You may not know this, but when you threw my memory shoebox in the fire I lost all love and intimate feelings for you. They turned to ashes along with my tangible memories. After that day I was only going through the motions with you. There, I said it. Those things were mine, things before we were together and memories I held dear. You are not everything in my life and you became less and less my in heart with every passing day. And I had given you every opportunity, FOR YEARS, to be so much more, and to love me the way I was willing to love you, damnit. You really killed it Richard. And you really killed ME. The REAL ME."
At that exact instant Lydia heard a loud popping noise in the ceiling! Nothing like she’d ever heard before, so was at a complete loss to what it might have been. But it was something loud and maybe even described as angry! And then dust started falling from the vent located above Richard and showered him with a light coating of years worth of grime. It almost reminded her of the ashes emanating from her shoebox of memories as they were incinerated in that dreadful open fire. Then there was a buzzing in a fluorescent fixture above, it blinked, fluttered and seemed to sputter before going out completely. The fluorescents were always grouped in two's it seemed, the one next to flickered then suddenly exploded. Thank God for dropped ceilings and those cloudy plastic lens things covering the lights. She could see the pieces of fine glass spray and hear the thin sharp shards clatter on the cover. ...and Lydia felt what was like a light fingertip softly brush over her cheek to her jaw and fade away in a lingering phantom caress. Will. And the only thing he was pleased with was her.
Lydia got up, feeling better than she had all day. She went over to the bed and brushed the dust and debris off the blankets and sheets. Gently she cleaned Richard's face, making sure there was nothing stuck in his lashes or left around his nose and mouth. Later she would get a nurse or candy striper to bring a broom and dust pan. She looked at the stone-like motionless Richard once more before going back to the chair and book. "Oh Richard. I don't think it's me, being pissed off at you, that you have to be worried about."
Amanda came back with lunch and hot chocolate, saying the weather was getting bleaker. Snowing harder than before, and the people at the restaurant said there was going to be more coming that evening, like the night before. She and Lydia checked their phones for the forecast and found it was true, but not so bad as to keep them away from the hospital the next day. The rest of the afternoon went the way of the new normal they were becoming very used to, and they went home right before visiting hours were over. Other than dinner and more reading, the evening was again peaceful and rather uneventful. But that was something that was going to changing quite quickly in the next few days. For the both of them. And Richard too.
(Part VIII coming soon!)
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Post by wolf on Dec 16, 2020 2:01:37 GMT
"Back in time for Christmas"
(Part VIII: Day 5 of 13)
Wednesday morning. The Bose clock radio came to life right on schedule, so did the coffeemaker and the heat was cycling just the way it was supposed to. It was a good morning.
As it turned out, that Tuesday night before, the weather did unexpected things and the plow trucks didn't make it out on the roads like they had before. It turned into a day that Lydia and Amanda stayed at home and took a break from the diligence of the visitations to Richard. They did what housecleaning needed to be done, and went on with doing their own things. Lydia straightened up and dusted everything in the den, watered the Christmas tree and kept it's festive lights on all day. She washed and dried her chair blanket, read and looked at her pictures. Amanda spent time on her computer and phone with friends. On the landline she called the nurses desk on the ICU floor 3 times that day to check on her daddy. Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Lydia said she would call again for her before she herself headed to bed. Amanda went to her room for the night early, but Lydia stayed up. In front of the fire in the den.
In the preceding days Lydia had been seeing and hearing other things happen. They were meant to frighten, or at least discourage her. A pebble out of nowhere hitting the windshield of the car that startled Amanda badly. That happened just as they came to a stoplight, right in front of the town's old cemetary. When Lydia looked up the first thing she saw was a headstone. The name on it was Lydon Bankston. And the way her clock radio alarm hadn't gone off like it was meant to the morning before was a part of it, she knew that too. Another thing was people talking as they passed Richard's open door. Much of what she heard were weirdly creeping malicious statements and exclamations, like what had come out of 'old dementia creep', but not aimed directly at her like what he'd said. Lydia let none of it bother, or upset her. She knew damn good and well that there were always troublemaking evil things hanging around in the air, just like all the good loving things that prowled about too. She recognized that the more sinister 'Sign' (as Grandfather had termed it) was nothing more than attempts to interfere with and deter her. Scare her, and make her feel guilt for still loving Will and liking this ghostly relationship that was developing.
There were still sweet nicer things going on as well. On one of their morning trips, listening to Lydia's radio station, Amanda reached over and turned the volume down. "Hey Mom. Listen to this one song for me. It keeps popping up on in my play lists, I'm getting to where I really like it." Amazin' Grace liked sharing Lydia's music with her, and Lid was always open to hearing new music from her daughter. She turned the car radio off saying, "Sure, baby. What do you have?" Amanda took an ear bud out of her left ear and put it in her mom's right ear for her while she was driving. The song started, and at first Lydia wasn't too crazy for it, but it got better as she listened. She paid close attention to the lyrics. What really made Lid like the song was when it came close to the end part and she heard the lyrics, "....won't you see me in the dark", the two diamond shaped crystals she and Amanda had dangling on fine silver chains from the rearview mirror suddenly began to sway much more than they should have with the motion of the car. They were on very smooth new road. They clinked together with a loud lovely tinkling sound, like good lead crystal does.....
This December 16th evening Lydia sat watching TV for a change ...out of no where....the channel on her tv suddenly switched, it was practically a violent shift in events. There was a mad looking, viciously angry man in an old black and white movie glaring out from the screen right at her, spitting out ferociously, "Hateful, unfaithful slattern!" ....... Lydia was a bit startled at that, it was so sudden! And she knew that was directed specifically at her. But very quickly she recovered from the little amount of shock and feelings of deep sadness and humiliation, that the incident caused. No. Lydia was not shook easily.
It was just like that horrid old man at Macy's. And finding the book mark Tarot card, at first not being sure if it was a good or bad thing. Those were 'other things' busily at work, that were not from or about WILL, or any of the 'good other things' that were around. She got slightly angry and picked up the remote from the lamp lit table beside her chair. Putting the channel right back where it was before, she said out loud adamantly, "THAT wasn't WILL, or anything else GOOD...that was nothing more than 'imps in the air', trying to make trouble. You're NOT scaring me, you bastards." And.... the wooden bear fell off the mantle, as if in a marque of vehement agreement. That made her happy, "Now that was my Will." she replied softly and her heartfelt declaration was answered by another one of those faint knock like sounds, that Amanda never seemed to notice, but she always did. Just the usual old house noises, Amazin' Grace would be thinking, if her ear ever caught sound of one. A gasp of wind rushing through the attic making a creak, or causing a branch to scrape and hit on the side of the house. Lydia knew what they all really were. It was her and Will's language, those noises, along with all of the pictures and what was detailed in them, and those barely there tastes of touch. All were new Christmas gifts, treasures that she kept lovingly secret and safe in her heart.....right along with the White Buffalo.
Sneaky wicked evil little things....the 'imps in the air' could just TRY to shake or rattle Lydia's resolve and determination. It wasn't going to work. And at times when she did get a startle, like this NEW tv sh!t they were trying to pull, Grandfather's words came to her calmly, "It'll be alright. Whatever it is. Just stay strong, woman." And as she opened the drawer of the side table beside her chair and took out a pack of hidden cigarettes with a lingering slight anger, she thought to herself, 'That I will Grandfather. That I will, sir'. She had a rare smoke since Amanda was in bed early, and picked up her phone. She called the hospital and checked on Richard, as she had promised. Everything was the same, on an even keel. She got off the phone, took a few good long drags and put the cigarette out. Placed the ashtray and all in the very back of the drawer and got up to get everything ready for the next morning. The fire was just about out, so all she had to do was close the glass doors. Leaving the den and entering the kitchen, she murmured "Com'mon, Will. Let's go to bed." At that she felt a faint tingling taste at her hand hanging down by her side, and she just knew tomorrow was going to be alright.
No matter what happened.
.....and something was about to happen. With Amazin' Grace.
(Part IX coming soon!)
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Post by Deleted on Dec 16, 2020 2:46:53 GMT
Woo Hoo... Two in one day.
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Post by wolf on Dec 18, 2020 17:36:09 GMT
"Back in time for Christmas"
(Part IX: Day6 of 13)
Thursday morning. Lydia was in her room, waking, getting ready for the day and heartily enjoying her new picture and visit from Will. They were all still coming every day now. Amanda Grace on the other hand wasn't doing so well, due to a terrible confused sadness that was haunting her. She had not slept good at all the night before, and was in no hurry to rise from her warm bed. But for her father she got herself up and ready. "Miss Determination and Resilience", she was so much more like her mother than she, or both her parents knew. The night before alone in her room, Amanda had heard some things herself, coming from her bathroom. She had dismissed the noises, thinking it was something outside. But later when she went in to wash up and get to bed, she saw something in her mirror. It had happened like this.
Settled in her room for a night of warmth and solitude. Amanda decided to take a shower. Hoping she can wash away the sadness of her father’s tragic situation. As she had been drying her hair in the bedroom she heard a noise coming from the bathroom and went to investigate. Looking around she found nothing out of the ordinary, but suddenly noticed something wasn't right out of the corner of her eye, it was in the steam fogged mirror. It looked like a figure in the left corner. Using her hand she wiped the steam away and was taken aback at the vague image before her… “Daddy!” she breathed out. The alarming representation of Richard was standing in the mirror with his right hand held up. It wasn’t a hand motion of hello or goodbye, relaxed and slightly cupped. It was a ‘stop’ depiction, with rigid fingers extended and spread apart. And she heard him, in a faint but distinctive voice say, "Let me go! I love you, but let me go Amanda." It was her dad's voice, and the pained face she saw was definitely his too. “I’m going crazy!” she thinks to herself as the figure of her father slowly faded away and fog once again swallowed up the glass. She slid down the door behind her to sit on the damp floor and broke down sobbing. “Is everything alright?” she heard her mother’s voice pierce the air… snapping her back to reality. Amanda covered her mouth and thought quickly, then called out calmly, “Yes, mom, I stepped on a hair clip.” She couldn’t tell her mom what she saw. And did she even really see what she thought she saw? Thinking “I can’t tell mom about this. She’s going through so much already! And I don't want her to wonder if she needs to get a shrink for me on top of everything else". Amanda just had to keep this to herself."
That last night Lydia had passed by Amanda's room, asked her if everything was alright and got an answer that seemed alright, and had her believing everything was fine with her little girl. That was how Lydia's 'last night' went. This Thursday morning, Lydia got to the kitchen before Amanda. When Amanda did come in for coffee and whatever they would have breakfast scant feast, she looked tired and not too alert. Not too alert for 'Amazin' Grace'. "Amanda! You look awful, sre you feeling alright?" Amanda smiled as best she could telling her, "Yeah, I'm okay mom. I didn't sleep too well. Tossed and turned is all." Lydia felt her forehead and looked closely at her puffy tired eyes, "well...I'm keeping an eye on you, little girl. You tell me if you get to feeling worse in any way." Amanda said she would and that she just wanted some coffee to perk her up. And Lydia went on to tell her she checked the city app on her phone and that the snow plows were being very slow about getting all the roads clear. They might not make it to the hospital again today. But they would try their best to.
Later that morning Lydia went for a short run to the store down the street, once the plows had come through in their area. Still, they weren't cleared all the way to down town yet. Milk.....how could she have neglected to get more milk.
Sugar and flower, even vanilla… check, but not enough milk.
Amanda wanted to tag along with Lydia, she really didn't feel up to being alone. The terribly upsetting vision of her father in what looked like great pain kept coming back to her again and again.
On the way to the store they pass the eccentric neighbor’s house. Every snowfall he creates an animal sculpture on his front lawn. A tradition the neighbors have come to enjoy and look forward to, and this time it’s a reclining buffalo. Lydia’s head stays focused in disbelief on the white powdery bovinae as they pass by. She knew the white buffalo in Grandfather’s vision was representative of change.
It wasn't the same as what Grandfather saw, but Lydia could plainly tell that this was a Sign of the White Buffalo that was all her own. Change. 'More change coming, I'm thinking.' thought Lydia.
This evening Amanda was in bed earlier again, this time from fatigue after losing much sleep the night before. Lydia was on her own trek to bed. She got to the stretch of hall between her and Amanda's room, which was quite long. Lid had left her bedside lamp on and her bedroom door open. There was enough light coming from there that she could find she her way in the dark, so it was alright to turn off the hall light. When she looked back from the switch, towards her room, that was the moment she saw the shadow figure. It could be no one or no 'thing' but Will, and suddenly she recalled the diamond shaped crystals in the car, clinking and tinkling against each other. And the song lyrics that they had so eloquently punctuated, "...won't you see me in the dark!"
Down at the end of the hallway, right in front of her bedroom door, the manly form stood with an arm up bracing against the wall in a relaxed stance. Then he moved and walked towards her. 'That's your walk!....Will. I KNOW it!....I know YOU.' she thought. The shadow figure gently passed her by, her head turned slowly watching, and he disappeared into the deeper darkness behind her. Lydia's heart leapt with a wonderful sort of ache. It was sad to see him disappear like that, but she was so happy to have seen him in the first place. Even as brief as it was. Ambivalence could be a hell of thing on occasion. She went on into her room and began getting ready for bed, peeling off layers of clothes. She went to the bathroom and on the way back out stopped at the sink to splash some water on her face and brush her teeth. The water turned on and running, Lydia loaded a toothbrush with Arm and Hammer paste and glanced up at the mirror. There he was. It was a moment that lasted only a split second but felt like a half an hour in her mind. Will was standing behind her. Looking into the mirror, right at her, and doing so with that smile of his, and those deep expressive eyes that always said so much without a word. And he was gone. Like it had never happened at all. Lydia closed her eyes, the image imprinting on her memory. Another gift from him. Yes, Lydia would ride this 'metaphysical rollercoaster' until it stopped. She had a bit of sad longing after the shadow and mirror image disappeared, leaving her all alone again. But she fought it, and decidedly looked forward to the next morning. Lydia got to bed, and as she slipped off into a deep sleep, the last thing she remembered feeling was what felt like the back sides of fingers ever so lightly stroke the side of her face, from sharp cheek bone to strong feminine jaw, then trail away from the point of her pretty chin. She thought she heard a sigh, maybe she was just dreaming. A lucid dream, she thought as she drifted off to sleep.
(Part X coming later!)
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Post by wolf on Dec 18, 2020 17:37:44 GMT
Woo Hoo... Two in one day.
It IS Pay Day after all! 😊  |
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Post by wolf on Dec 19, 2020 2:54:18 GMT
"Back in time for Christmas"
(Part X: Day7 of 13)
Friday......
and more change was coming.
The city had the roads all good and clear, so the mother and daughter were able to get back up to the hospital. After their usual quick breakfast. Amanda Grace had slept more Thursday night, from exhaustion both physical and mental. She did look much better, no puffed swollen eyes, so Lydia still didn't know what the girl was going through. To say Amanda was distraught was an understatement. She was far beyond that, after seeing Richard in such a terrible state. But the youngster carried and hid it well, to spare her mother any more worry and grief. And at the same time, Amanda wasn't sure what she'd seen was real or merely her very vivid imagination playing tricks on her. She did FEEL it was real though. Hence her huge concern and heartbreak for and over her daddy. Also she was eaten up with what he said and what could he had meant by that. She understood the 'I love you'. But the part where he said 'Let me go' was nagging at her in a most painful way. The only thing that made her feel any better, was going to get to see him. Even if he wasn't awake yet. Thursday she kept up with her phone calls to the nurses desks, checking on him. So did Lydia, right beside her whenever she called the hospital.
Lydia's Friday morning went on steadily, like all these right before Christmas mornings had been. Another picture, another morning with significant songs on the radio in her room, and later in her car. Every morning now she felt his hands on her arms, and on her shoulders. And of course those wonderful 'house noises' (and now 'car noises' too) punctuating and accentuating certain things at certain times.
It was a relatively dull day at the hospital, fewer people in the hospital halls, no exploding fluorescent lights. And, Thank God, no new arrivals coming into the ICU. The nurses and doctors, and other staff were fairly quiet. They were happy to have had a couple of days of bad weather, where not many citizens got out and into trouble. It wasn't as busy as it had been since Richard came in, and they were enjoying the break, and only having to care for their current charges. Lydia read to Richard and Amanda listened, more subdued than usual but not enough that anyone else noticed. She was content to sit by her daddy and hold his hand while she watched over him in his deep sleep. Both she and Lydia stayed in for lunch that day, having brought really good leftovers with them. BLT's on fresh toast, made with crisp bacon from the night before's dinner, and some X-Mas cookies they had made earlier that day too. That was Lydia's idea, keeping on with trying to maintain some type of normalcy and hope for Amanda. They made a big batch of the Tree, Snowman and Star shaped delights, setting most aside, put up safe for Richard to have when he got to come home.
The faithful pair left right before visiting hours were over, like they had been doing all a long. This night they had a dinner of Chinese food delivered, (Lydia tucked away her fortune cookie, to open another time) and spent the rest of the night watching the Seasonal movies on the TV in the den. Both curled up under Lid's thick warm chair blanket on the big sofa beside her plush chair. Amanda cuddled up to her mom and got lost in the stories in front of them, and was mercifully able to put her worries away for awhile. The next day was Saturday, so they watched TV late into the night. Amanda went to bed first and was sound asleep as soon as her pretty head hit her pillow. Lydia got up not too long after her, and prepared everything for the next day. Fire was safely out. Coffee maker set up. Thermostat on the heat setting where it should be.
Lydia ventured on through the house to the hallway leading to her room. She had made sure to leave her bedside lamp on and the door open, just like before. She switched the hall light off. And there he was. Again standing there leisurely, then doing that walk of his, sauntering up to her. He passed her in the hall again, but this time she heard HIS voice whisper...."I'll be back..." Lydia couldn't even begin to think about what that could mean or entail exactly, but it thrilled her and made her happy. Will's voice. It had been SO long since she'd heard it! Another gift. She felt a pang of sorrow in her heart, watching his shadow disappear, thinking that probably, he and all her 'gifts' would one day soon stop and disappear forever. She knew it was something that more than likely would happen, and she had to be ready for that eventuality. Thinking about it now, might make it easier when the time came. In the deepest, smallest, remote place in the back of her mind, she secretly dared to hope for more once again. And thought in a tiny way, without using words in her mind, 'maybe these things and Will won't stop'. Lydia went on into her bedroom to finish getting ready for Saturday morning.
She sat on the side of her bed and turned the clock radio alarm off. The station, she made sure was dialed exactly where it should be. Lydia was grateful there were no 'TV shenanigans' going on when Amanda was around. As she turned the radio on briefly she said softly but firmly into the surrounding air, "And this radio better be right here, on that spot on that FM dial when I wake up. 'Imps'." A quick succession of gentle taps across the ceiling, that could have been the running feet of a little baby squirrel sounded in obvious agreement, and Lydia smiled at the cheerful noise. She got up and went to her bathroom.
Lydia walked into the dark master bath's doorway, flipping on the light. As soon as the room lit up, she got a hell of a scare. Yes, the not easily shaken Lid was most certainly taken aback, tremendously, and she got a shock that actually frightened her. Richard was looking out at her in her bathroom mirror. His face drawn and grayish, his eyes sunken, but widely opened and he had the most dire expression on his face and in those desperately forlorn glaring orbs. He looked ghastly, and....pained. It was when he slapped both of his palms up against the mirror (as though he were stopping himself from falling forward) and spoke, that Lydia realized he was in a profound agony........
She actually gasped and damn near choked on that breath's intake. Richard looked so morose, so sad, so hurt. And all that were yet more understatements. She'd never seen anyone look so sorrowful. He exclaimed in an almost inaudible voice, "I'm sorry!" she wasn't afraid anymore. Instinctually she knew she didn't have to be scared, and she automatically had a gargantuan heart wrenching pity for Richard.
Richard in the mirror was obviously in a state of horrible pain and torment. She was speechless at first, then she heard Richard telling her, "Lydia! ....it hurts. Let me go, PLEASE. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry! I hurt you terribly. Unspeakably.... and I KNOW now! I was so wrong. Have mercy Lydia, pleeaaaaase! Forgive me and LET ME GO.
"
Lydia was heartsick and damn near broken inside, at seeing the pain in his eyes, this agony he was in. Her mind raced trying to find explanation to all of this, then it struck her like a lightening bolt. She whispered in a most hushed, empathetic voice, actually hurting herself she was, "Oh God, Richard?...the coma. It's doing this to you!? "
Richard in the mirror tried to smile the best he possibly could, through the plain as day agony he was in. Lydia had gotten the message, she understood. He nodded slowly, sluggishly raising a palm, as though he were fighting through a tar pit mire. His hand up to the mirror in front of her, again. Lydia eyes began to well with huge tears of not only pity, but also with a shred and shards of the shattered love she once felt for this man. She raised her own hand and touched the mirror surface too, her palm to his. "Oh Richard....I don't know what to do. But yes. I forgive you! And I will. I will find a way."....
Richard gave her another agonized small smile and nod, so tormented, then faded away.
Lydia wiped her eyes and running nose. Thinking, racking her brains, about how it was she was to let him go. He was in a coma, but not on life support. Then it came to her....her will power....but not only hers, Amazin' Grace's too.....they were unintentionally willing him to live trapped in this agonized, so tormented state. They had to let him go....
Lydia knew she could do it.
But what about Amanda Grace?
How was that good, devoted and loving child expected to let go of one of the parents she so desperately loved and needed?
With Richard's apparition gone now, Lydia felt, and thought of, the magnitude of the situation. She sighed deep and raggedly, suddenly experiencing a feeling of physical tiredness that she had never known before. She let herself fall back against the bathroom door. It almost overwhelmed her, this onset of extraordinary fatigue, and for a moment she didn't know if she was going to be physically able to make it to bed or not. Then she felt it. A hand took her by the arm and urged her gently up and out of the bathroom, helping her back to the side of her bed to sit down. And small quiet knock like noises, and click like little taps sounded in the walls of the room in that comforting manner, that she so needed right now. Will was there. Hurting for her, and with her. And helping her, the best he could. Lydia sloughed off her garb and slid in between her bed's sheets and was asleep. Her last thoughts were of Will, and how she loved him, and how grateful she was to have him this way for now when he was so needed. And finally she thought, 'tomorrow will take care of itself'. She fell into needed sleep.
Saturday was coming quickly now.....and it would have much to bring with it.
(Part XI coming soon!)
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Post by wolf on Dec 21, 2020 19:37:01 GMT
"Back in time for Christmas"
(Part XI: Day8 of 13)
Saturday morning. Lydia and Amanda awoke to more snow, a nice steady snowfall, nothing to be worried about that would disrupt their day's plans. The mother got up that morning and her first thought like always, was of Will. She was still feeling his helping touch from the night before, and of course had to think hard about poor Richard and all that she saw and heard in and coming from that mirror. Her heart hurt again at remembering what happened. But in the recesses of her mind she heard Grandfather's calm rich voice, 'It'll be alright. Whatever it is. Just stay strong, woman'. That helped her too, just like Will. She would stay strong, no matter what. She had to, for Richard, and especially for Amanda. She got up and ready for day, Will ever with her in all his ways. The mother and daughter's morning routine in the kitchen went the same as usual, and soon they were on their way to down town.
In the hospital parking lot, Amanda suddenly and without warning began to cry, and said "oh mom." Lydia was taken aback, she knew that tone. The poor kid was going through something that she'd been hiding. Lydia became terribly concerned and just knew it had to be something to do with Richard. Lydia took her hand, "What is it, Amanda? Tell me." she said that as serenely as she could, but inside her heart pounded and filled with dread. Amanda's emotion became stronger and more intense. She looked at her mother, a fearful distress in her eyes, "I saw something terrible the other night Mom. And I'm scared." Lydia's heart pounded harder, now she knew for sure it was about Richard, she nodded indicating for Amanda to go on. "Please don't think I'm crazy Mom." Lydia raised her hand kissed it, "Never, honey. Just tell me, it's okay." Amanda went and told her everything about what she saw and heard out of Richard in the mirror.
Lydia listened intently without saying a word. Letting her finish uninterrupted. And when she was done, Lydia was careful to not let Amanda know what SHE had seen. And what he said to her. After hearing it all from the girl she figured out Amanda's visit had not been as awful and intense as what she had experienced. Somehow Richard had hidden the vast majority of his pain from his daughter. He must have, to spare her. It was gut wrenching though, the weight of Richards circumstance crashing down on her poor innocent child. Amanda, being forced to deal with this horrendous curveball.
"Mom. The one thing I just don't understand, is why he said to let him go that way." her eyes began to fill with tears again. Lydia took in a long deep breath. There, that was what she was waiting on. They were going to have to get into that. "Well, first of all you're not crazy Amanda. I know you're not. And neither am I. I saw him like that too, baby. I know it does seem crazy, but things like this do happen to some people. We've found that out, haven't we?" Amanda let out a shuddering mournful breath and leaned over to hug her mother, it was a small relief to her that her mother had gone through the same thing. Lydia, trying to get away from the crazy supernatural aspect, told her, "Even if was some sort of trauma induced 'mass hysteria' we've gone through. I think it's something we really should talk about sweetheart."
"Oh mom, what did he mean!?" Lid hugged her tight and kissed her cheek, now she was crying too. When Amanda sat back to look at her she told her, "I'm not sure. But I think maybe it's about...." she was having, difficulty finding the right words, "...if something bad were to happen, Amanda. If he had a stroke or a heart attack, like they've warned us could happen." Amanda thought about it a moment then said, "Like if he ended up on life support or something?" Lydia nodded, "Yeah. I think it's like that. I think he really must want us to let him go if anything like that happens." That was all Lydia could bring herself to say. The Amazin' Grace was starting to feel better about it now, "We'll keep hoping and praying, and being with him, Mom. Right." Drying her eyes, Lydia had to agree, "That's right, baby. That's all we can do right now." Then Amanda came out with something else that needed to be talked about.
“I know you and dad don’t love each other any more” she said with an expression Lydia could see was filled with sorrow and hurt.
Lydia had to tell her truth, she would not lie to her child, "I do love your dad, I just can't love him that specific way anymore. We're always going to be family Amanda, no matter what. I'll always love your dad like that. You know...like Uncle Carl or Aunt Virginia." Amanda had been crying, but she had to laugh, wiping tears away, "Mom...you don't like Uncle Carl or Aunt Virginia!" Lydia smiles, "Yeah, I know! But underneath it all I still kinda love 'em." Amanda laughed more, "Okay! I get it!... I don't like them very much either. And I know Dad can really be a big D!ck sometimes." Lydia actually managed a grin, "yeah, you get it little girl. Your dad really loves you honey, just like you love him. That's what is most important, he and I are fine. Don't worry about that."
”Okay, mom, I think I understand. Sometimes I get kind of afraid it was me that was driving you guy apart.” Lydia’s eyes opened wide as she responded, holding back more fresh tears, “ Hit the delete button on those thoughts right now, kid, because nothing, NOTHING, could be further from the truth. If anything, it is YOU that keeps us TOGETHER. We simply have grown apart in the couple way.” Amanda accepted that and Lid went on to make clear. "Amanda, the one thing that your father and I share and can keeps us loving one another in that good family way is YOU. I love you little girl." Amanda smiled and hugged her mom again, "I love you mama." Sometimes fortune can come from tragedy. Two very important issues were worked on that day in the car. Amanda and Lydia both ended up feeling better, and went on with their day in Richards hospital room with him. Then on back home after visiting hours.
Early that night Lydia went into the kitchen to see about starting dinner. The undercounter lights were on but she needed more light, so she went and flipped on the over head recessed lights. As soon as she did that the radio on the far kitchen counter turned on out of no where, the volume not too loud. It was Toto's "Hold the line". Will had always loved that song playing. '...hold the line! Love isn't always on time!'
....
He was behind her now, she felt him as she stood there in the middle of the kitchen floor. Abruptly, but not violently the clip in her hair was pulled out, and thrown over onto one of the countertops, and her shoulder length locks fell around her shoulders. "That's better, Lydia." He spoke soothingly in her ear....."It's on time now, baby" it was so good to hear his voice, and Lydia hung on every word he said,"....you're bringing me back, Lid. You come back for me...I'm bringing you, the REAL YOU, back too."
She briefly felt those wonderful hands up and down the outer sides of her arms, and on her shoulders. And it was more than that tingling taste of a touch, there was a solidity now, that hadn't been there before. Then he was gone, leaving her to cook some dinner for Amanda and herself.
Like always, it was hard on her went he left her like this, truly heartbreaking. But she bore up to it well, always looking forward to the next time.
Will said he was 'bringing her back too'....and Lydia knew it was true, she had been more herself again, more alive than she had been in what felt like eons. She would do it. She would come back for Will. These days Lid always wore her hair in a French roll, and held it up with those claw like clamps. She walked over to the counter and took up the hair clip Will had taken from her mane. She threw it in the trash beside the sink, and made up her mind that she would never put her hair up like that again. And would let it grow longer, like she had in the years before her emotional and spiritual death.......
(Part XII coming later!)
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Post by Dizzy on Dec 22, 2020 1:30:50 GMT
Still Loving it Guys keep up The Amazing Work You 2., olfEOEbpO0rxuamBULVg c017 c029 AiAkOrkWFthFsVgFMISE
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Post by Deleted on Dec 22, 2020 1:45:02 GMT
Thanks Dizzy. We will as long as you say a couple prayers for wolfie to maintain her sanity. 
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Post by Dizzy on Dec 22, 2020 2:58:34 GMT
Lol **Hugs an Prayers** To You Both! wolf I Hope You Keep Your Sanity Sis! mdfc smilie_girl_freude s015 AiAkOrkWFthFsVgFMISE You Doing a Great Job an So are you diobolic You 2 are both Awesome at This, WUITIIQGUyMrvFxIgkNw c029  c017
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Post by wolf on Dec 22, 2020 23:43:48 GMT
"Back in time for Christmas"
(Part XII: Day9 of 13)
Sunday. Alarms were not set. Showers were taken, and dressing for the day was done. Breakfast was a little more this morning, being a Sunday. Scrambled eggs and some sausage. Then the usual preparations for the trip to the hospital. The vigilant pair spent their time at Richard’s bedside. A light lunch after a heavier breakfast, and they went out together to get it, arm in arm down the main street in a lovely snowfall that went so well with the Christmas lights and decorations of down town. And Will’s ever-growing presence was helping Lydia cope with the sorrow at the helms of her and Amanda's hearts... helping Lid navigate the obstacle course of rambunctious emotional upheaval and everything the 'metaphysical rollercoaster' had to thrust upon her.
In her mind she thanked Will over and over again throughout the day for aiding her with the rueful times she had been experiencing. She also contemplated how bittersweet each passing day had become, and thankful she at least was more than ambivalent to it all… accepting, instead of trying to explain it all away. She knows without Will by her side sadness would have latched it ugly grasp upon her and held her down forcefully. And she might not have been strong enough to escape its clutches. And she knows fear would have ruled the day, compiling volumes of worst case scenarios to Richard’s plight.
But with Will along side her a sense of joy also existed, and Lydia simply could not be remorseful that she also is feeling good. That just wouldn't have been right, though things like those in the 'old dementia creep' would have thinking it would be right to feel guilt and remorse. She knew better, and she Will. She had someone who only wanted her to be happy, after so many years of undeserved misery. That was all he ever wanted when he was alive and apparently continues to feel the same way in whatever kind of afterlife he was living right now. In a way he was reminding her that cheerfulness in these times is needed for the soul, especially in outward appearance for her daughter's sake, in order to face the bleakest of situations. And she was happy, and very grateful, he was keeping melancholy from washing over her, consuming her, and bringing her to her knees.
Grief, sadness, and tears were within her days, but also happiness had it’s place, too. She had Will’s memories and now his spirit to thank for that. Joy and sadness could coexist together, and helped to keep her strong. She had to be strong as much for Amanda as for her own sanity. She looked forward to arriving back home today. Looked forward to getting back home to Will.
Amanda and her mother had a good day, as far as these days could be good for them. The loving daughter was still very distraught over her father, but was feeling more at ease about her vision of him in the bathroom mirror. She was tending to remember more of how he had smiled, though appearing to be so sad, and said 'I love you'. Thinking back on it, she really felt like he knew how much she loved him, though during the shocking event she hadn't gotten the words out. In her heart she knew he was hearing everything she and mother had been saying to him every day in his hospital room. And everyday, she had not failed to say, " We're here! I love you Daddy', at least 50 to 100 times.
The two had a nice dinner together once again, that she had helped her mother with. And later went on to have another pleasant night with a couple of tv shows and a movie in the den. Amanda went on to her room before Lydia, like she did most nights, and her mother followed not long after. Following her nightly routine as faithfully as her morning regimen, she got everything set up for the night and the next morning. Locked up and soon found herself in the hall leading to her bedroom. The bedside lamp on, and the door open. That was how she was keeping things lately. No sooner she'd flipped that hallway switch off, Will's shadow was there just outside her bedroom door's threshold. And he walked that walk, right up to her.
She watched, standing still and admiring the ever masculine fluid movement of him. He stopped beside her this time, just for a second or two, but it lengthened and seemed like half an hour. Here was yet another Christmas gift, something new was happening as well as the hearing of him in her ear softly breathing out "Lydia..." and his hand gently stroking down her arm to meet her hand and grasp it, before gently drifting off away from her fingertips. What was new and different, was that this time she could smell him. She knew that smell immediately. It was just like it always was when he came home from a hard days work. He smelled like summer. On a day after he'd been out in a work truck. Traces of still clean freshly dried sweat mingled with remnants of the cologne he'd put on that morning. Mingled with the faint scents of dust, oil and gasoline of the roads traversed, that had clung to him through the open truck windows. And that light touch of cigarette smoke in the mix too. There was even the scantest hint from the leather of his tool pouch and belt, making the mix all so heady and heart melting. All of it was so distinctly, so uniquely "Will". Lydia loved this language they were sharing in these visits, and he was so terribly and wonderfully eloquent in these forms of communication. That really didn't surprise her too much, she had always known how he could speak volumes with just one look in his eye, or with a subtle facial expression, that no one else would notice but her.
It was ever so difficult to have him pass on by into the shadows that swallowed and hid away his phantom form, and go on into her room alone. But she managed, with that smell still lingering about her. She went into her bathroom, brushed her teeth and was contently getting ready for sleep. But when she looked up into mirror after turning the sink water off, he was there. With that smile. And then gone. She had gotten even more from him than she had hoped for. Before turning off the light, she gazed deep in the mirror and looked for poor Richard. There was no sign of him. With great compassion and real familial love showing in her eyes, she quietly talked out loud into the glass. Into the mirror, that she now wondered if it was some sort of scrying pool for unknown places and their denizens, "...sleep peacefully Richard. We'll see you in the morning."
She sincerely hoped Richard could have some peace that night, and every day and night. She prayed for it, as she drifted into a restful sleep herself, with Will's scent still surrounding her. The next day would come....and with it more trepidations. But for tonight all was well and right with her world. Tomorrow would take care of it self.
(Part XIII coming later!)
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