The Star on the Christmas Tree

::A Christmas Story. Copyright mine.::




He always believed in guardian angels. He stared out of the window, watching fields brushed white with snow and squat houses covered with mist; everything in the horizon covered with a startling purity that seemed to forget the harsh, blistering cold and the dearth of life outside. He wondered if she would remember him. It was only two months that he had to be outstationed, but between that two months and his longing for her, the time seemed to crawl by for an eternity. How he longed, to hear her voice again, chiding him not to forget important stuff; her laughter, like a tinkling stream, so captivating that he could not help but stifle an urge to embrace her tightly. I wonder if she’s changed, he thought to himself. He couldn’t bear to leave her again. The day he left, he buried his head in her hair and held back the urge to cry like a child. She was the reason why he held on for so long. And now it was time to come home. I’ll be back for Christmas, he promised. His love for her emerged out of the pain of a long-ago love, once lost, and never returned.

She was his first love, both young and naïve, in their first year of university together. He thought he had known happiness; but it was only in her presence that he felt totally at peace, and the joy of just being with her, just an innocent brush of their shoulders would send him into ecstasy. I love you forever, she always said to him. Then one day, she left. It was his fault. He did not treasure her, treasure the happy memories they shared. He was unfaithful once, with a much older woman. And when she caught him that day, she chased him away, in indignance and hurt. Out of her life, out of her heart forever. In her innocent world, there was no room for a second chance. Once she was gone, his world crashed, and for several weeks he locked himself in his room, wanting to make amends but not knowing how to. His life, became a mere shell of a haunting existence that was torn apart by his own misdeeds. Many nights he cried out, “Where are you? Please come back…I cannot live without you!” But there was no answer. Then, it was the Christmas season and he could not bear to look at the top of the Christmas tree, as it would remind him of her, and how he had tossed her aside. Angel. Where are you? Later, he heard that she had transferred to another university several miles away, and she would start the spring term there. Before the first term-papers, there was a tragic accident. “Mr Craig, we require you to come at once.” Angel was dialing his number before the car skidded on the highway. It was a head-on collision. Numbed, he rushed to the scene. It was all his fault, he knew. She could not drive well. She was not supposed to be alone. When he reached the highway, he knew she was not going to make it. The frontage of the vehicle was battered beyond recognition. And when he saw her body, he cried loud, gasping sobs. She was with child. His child.

Trudging home, he realized how blessed he was to have known love and having been given a second chance at love. She unconditionally accepted him into her life the day she knew him. And he knew that for the rest of his life, he would be there for her, no matter what. He opened the door tenderly, and a warm, vibrant burst of energy shot out from the couch and ran straight into his arms.

“Daddy!”
“Stella… Oh God, I’ve missed you so much.”

The day she was born, her mother died. It was a miracle that the rescue team could extricate her mother’s mangled body and deliver her at the scene. She was unscathed. She was his star, the shining light that made him realize that there was more to life, than just looking to satisfy momentary pleasures. The last seven years aged him much, inwardly. And every Christmas they had together, he would place a shimmering star on the Christmas fir. This star was said to represent the guiding star that led the Wise Men of the Orient to the Baby Jesus, in whom redemption was found, for all mankind. So he named her Stella. It meant ‘star’.

He always believed in guardian angels. Like a shining star in the night-sky, he believed she was up there, watching over both of them as they gave thanks and celebrated Christmas.