Cherished Affliction ( Continued )

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas Now

A/N Unfortunately this chapter isn't supposed to be the last one, but the original author never posted the rest of the book, so this is the ending we're stuck with. This chapter doesn't really give any closure to the book, but i guess it's better than nothing. Also, i'm sorry if any of the religion-related stuff is messed up since i don't practice either religion. Feel free to correct me if anything is wrong : )

It was snowing.

Sprinkles, turning into beautiful little flakes...falling all around them, marring the deep dark tones of their dresses and suits.

They began to blend in with the glossy white casket being lowered into the ground and Lauren briefly wondered if the wetness falling down her cheeks were tears or the flakes melting into cool, crisp, water.

She turned in time to see her father, turning his back and walking away from the gravesite, and her angry sister – all whipping brown hair and tears, following him and she wondered if this was how her mother saw her family.

Cold, broken, angry.

She wouldn't want this for them, but Lauren didn't know how to fix it.

She didn't know what to do.

She did know that the snow was pretty at Christmastime, the day before her mother's favorite holiday. And with that thought, she stepped up to the grave, where her mother lay still and peaceful and she dropped a red rose on the top of her casket.

"Merry Christmas, Mom."

She wasn't there.

Lauren sat up quickly, breathing erratically and in a panic. She looked around wildly, her vision clearing up as best as possible while she confirmed that she was in her bedroom, Camila sleeping peacefully beside her...unbothered and unconcerned with the fact that Lauren had most definitely been dreaming of the day she buried her mother.

Lauren reached up and touched her cheeks with the backs of her knuckles, feeling wetness there and realizing that she must have been crying in her sleep.

Every year was the same.

Lauren was lucky to get through Christmas Eve without locking herself up in her room and never seeing daylight and this year seemed to be off to a similar start.

Her heart felt heavy and her brain was fuzzy...filled with memories of her screaming sister and her mother...still with death. Cold.

Running her hand across her forehead, Lauren slid out of the bed as quietly as possible and tip toed across the room.

If she couldn't get a peaceful night's rest, she might as well attempt to get a handle on her emotions for the Cabello's sake. She didn't want to go and ruin the wonderful week they had been having with the memories of her mother's passing and all of the emotional stress that came with it.

As she made her way down the staircase, she admired the decorations from the night before. The reds and golds and greens surrounded her, restored a bit of the warmth lost from the erratic dreams that had just plagued her mind.

Nearing the entrance to the kitchen, Lauren heard the sounds of someone rustling around. Pulling her robe tighter across her body, Lauren smiled as she saw Alejandro attempting to work beans into the coffee maker and failing. He was murmuring to himself in irritation, no doubt frustrated with how obscenely difficult the machine was.

"Oh for God's sake, where do they make this stuff? Mars?" He huffed and Lauren stifled a laugh as she made her way over.

"I could help you with that if you'd like, Mr. Cabello." Lauren spoke softly and Alejandro whipped around quickly – startled by Lauren's sudden appearance.