3. Blurry Blindfolds And Velvet Snow

Sunday was a cold winter night, the snow cloaking Wycliffe in white. The hopeful December brought joy and illustrated the town with colours, and houses were illuminated with the radiant fairy lights and the candles, while silver bells could be heard everywhere. The whole of Rue de Rouge was glowing with happiness. The crunching of heavy boots on snow , the joyful laughter of children sliding down a hill, the warming scent of the steaming mug of hot cocoa...Wycliffe seemed to be in favour of the angels.

 Round the corner, Mr and Mrs Davidson walked with their nieces - Madelaine and Annelise, returning from the church. Annelise walked with her crutch, and holding her sisters hand." There's rock in front of you, Maddie." She whispered. " Good evening, Mr Thompson !" Annelise called out to the man smoking a pipe, near them. They walked up to an oak door, and brushed their feet against the "Welcome" rug before they entered. The sturdy brick house had white lined windowsills, and a quaint chimney and four flowerpots on the front porch. Quite the fairy tale.

Soon, the evening slipped into the night, the violet melted into the black of the night. The lights dimmed, the children returned to their homes, and silence took over.  

But, the sisters were far from Wycliffe, sailing with Sinbad on the seven seas, flying with Miss Earhart through the candy floss clouds, exploring the lands with Columbus- "That's enough storytelling for one night, Maddie." Annelise said, as she rested the book on the nightstand. Madelaine sighed. "I can't believe it's our fifth Christmas without Mama and Papa." 

Annelise smiled at her," Silly girl !" She said."There's the night sky with the hundreds of stars, Maddy, it's simply beautiful. And I can see so many shining stars, gazing at us through the windows. That's Mama ! She's millions of galaxies away, looking down and wishing us a merry Christmas ! And nearly as close to her, that's Papa !" She murmured to her sister, as Madelaine smiled brightly. "I wish I could see them." She whispered, tugging at the blinds on the window. "Oh Maddy ! Why don't you wish for it ! Mama always said, if you wished something that comes from here.." Annelise said pointing at her sister's heart,"it's sure to come true !" Madelaine nodded, and gently dozed off to sleep. Annelise pulled down the blinds over the black, starless sky which seemed to have swallowed the liveliness of the evening.  The older sister looked down at the sleeping soul, and wiped away a tear. Annelise walked over to her bag, slinging it across her shoulders, and clutching her crutch in one hand, she followed her Aunt and walked out of the room.

The brick house seemed hauntingly quiet as the days followed. No laughing of children..no playing in the snows. The roses in the garden wilted away.

It was Christmas morning, Madelaine was sitting upright in her hospital bed in the midst of the sourly smell of sorrow, while the other boys and girls were unwrapping their Christmas presents, under the tree. An hour long surgery had been performed on the blind girl, in dire hope that this time, she will open her eyes to see the wintry morning. Dr Halley walked in with a hopeful smile and softly spoke," Maddy, now when I unwrap your bandage, you must gently open your eyes. Soak it in slowly, and don't be afraid." The white gauze was slowly taken off and her eyes fluttered open. A collage of colours greeted her. Her newfound eyes traveled the sickly white tainted walls of the hospital, and wandered over to the golden green of the trees outside the window, the pastel blue of the vast sky, the silk covers of the bed. It was as if an impossible dream, a collage of colors. A gentle smile crept up on Madelaine's lips. "I can see. I can see !" She exclaimed as she raced to the window. 

"Madelaine, I have something for you .." Her Aunt said, while handing her a folded piece of paper. 

"My Dearest Maddy ,

By the time you read this, I shall have gone quite far for you to find me. So, I advice you not to look for me. There's something I have been meaning to tell you..but could not muster up enough courage to do so, thus this letter.

 I haven't been keeping well, lately. I visit the doctors, a lot..but they can't help me anymore. And perhaps, it cannot be helped. With all the headaches, I sometimes can't stand straight, and I feel very scared. But when we're sleeping at night, and you make up stories about Jordan the Duck, or Princess Poppy , I feel safe in your arms, and forget that I'm so terribly ill. 

But I don't want to leave you, because you're all I have. So, I'm going to give you one last Christmas gift. I hope you have a wonderful life, and experience the wildest of things, because it's a one way ticket, Maddy. And I don't want you to regret it.

Yours forever, 

Annelise "