Grace

           Bare feet stuck to the hardwood, a sound she would never forget. Sitting on the floor she watched her baby stand with help; she’d taken a tentative step. Bewildered and joyful in the same moment, she could see the bemused look in her daughter’s eyes. Gently holding her toddler hands, they shifted on the floor. Soon she’d be walking; Natalie knew that much. This girl was a surprise, a gift, and a struggle, all at once.

            Happy tears stung her eyes, knowing Gracie was going to embark on another milestone. Wiping away a stray tear at the corner, she led her forward, testing the girl’s balance. It was shaky and uncertain with each cautious step. They paused just as Grace stopped and fell. Scooping up the baby before she hit, she cuddled her and kissed her face, hearing her giggle and squeal in delight.

            “Good job, Gracie!” Hugging her baby, she laughed, before her smile turned sad and the stinging tears returned. She sat on the couch, feeling Grace snuggling for a nap, and held her as she started to doze. It was some minutes later that she could finally lay the girl on the couch. Crossing her legs on the rug, she wiped at more falling tears; once again her mind straying to the doctor’s words before they left the hospital mere days from her birth.

            Trying to stay strong for her husband, she glanced at the baby, eyes foggy with unshed tears. Grace would never hear her voice.

Ceiling Tiles and Laughter

I'm not sure why I penned this story; other than the fact it's a testament to my bizarre sense of humor. But I hope whatever terrible situation I may get into in the future, I could look at it with some laughter.

Ceiling Tiles and Laughter

            The ceiling tiles hadn’t changed. Even now as he lay in a different room than the one he had entered, they remained plain. Same old white, same old specks and pock marks. He glanced to his left, taking note of the monitor tracking his pulse. Inhaling slowly, he eased himself up, resting tentatively on his elbows.

            Things had changed, but he’d been too nervous the past few days to look. Nurses said he was lucky, they said he could learn and everything would be back to normal. Giving them a smile and a nod was the best response he could muster. Fingers tense as they curled around the blanket, he shifted and pulled back the sheets.

            It wasn’t as bad now, finally laying his eyes on it. He’d been so doped up on pain killers; he couldn’t believe what they’d told him. Now he could finally see it for himself. Running his hand down the flesh of his thigh, he came to the bandage and gauze that adorned his leg; or what remained. A few moments of staring at it, he laughed. After days of being angry, melancholy and overwhelmed, all that remained was laughter.

            He must have been loud, because next thing he knew, his nurse rushed in. Wiping stray tears from the corners of his eyes, he grinned up at her. The woman looked flustered, unsure what to think of her patient’s current mood.

            “I think I’ll name it, McStumpy,” he beamed.