The Christmas Healing

Christmas Eve was like any other in Millers Falls, Massachusetts. Family members came out for the Christmas celebrations going on around town, and then took part in family traditional celebrations and gatherings. My sister Sarah asked me to drive her to a small party on top of the hill overlooking the town that her best friend Rachel was putting on. I wasn't too keen on leaving her with a group of young teenagers while Rachel's parents, the Johnsons were out of town. But Rachel insisted and assured me that everything would be alright. I decided to drive back down to the valley to a Christmas party that the Drake's were putting on. Little did I know that this night would be like no other.

I arrived around 7:00 PM at the Drake's with the party just getting under way. The house was full of guests interacting with each other, all having a great time. There was more food than I could have imagined. After the main meal, we gathered into the living room for cocktails and some caroling.

It was then that the chime on the clock rang three times for my attention that in less than four hours I would be serving breakfast to a room full of people. "Oh no, I have to pick up Sarah!" I said to myself. I've got to get home. Sleep was precious and I had already exhausted my last amount of energy. I jumped into my car and drove around the lake that separated the Drake's house from the winding road leading back up the hill to the Johnsons.

As I made my way up the steep hill and rounded the corner, I spotted a white sedan slowly inching its way toward the driver's side of my vehicle and passing through my headlights without seeing anyone at the wheel. There was, however, no mistaking, an eerie presence that told me to mind my own business and go on. Approaching the Johnsons house, I noticed that no lights were on inside the house, everybody had left the party. "Where's Sarah?" I wondered.

Reaching my house boiling mad, I yelled out, "I'm never taking her anywhere again!" Laura, my oldest sister had waited up for us and asked me about the whereabouts of my younger sister. "I don't know where she is, but I do know she can get her own ride home". Minutes later I was in bed, awake, watching the sun slowly rise. There was nothing I could do to get to sleep. I finally fell asleep when the phone rang minutes later. It was State Trooper Steven Chase informing me of an accident that had occurred and therefore would like to speak with my parents. Seeing my parents' storm out the door with the state trooper, I decided to follow them out of curiosity.

Moments later as we arrived at the scene of the accident, I noticed the deep markings on the tree where the car made impact. I looked down the hill and saw the crumpled white sedan. I called out to see if anyone was inside the car, but there was no response. As I made my way down the steep hill towards the car, my heart pounding ever so fast not knowing what I might find, within seconds everything came to a sudden stop. What I feared the most came true, it was Sarah and her best friend Rachel slumped over in the drivers seat. After two hours of cutting and prying at the twisted metal, Sarah and Rachel were removed and pronounced dead. It was a tragic night that would haunt me for days.

Weeks had gone by after the funeral, and I was still blaming myself for Sarah's death. I thought to myself, "if I had not left her at the party, she would still be alive today."

Several days later, as I was sitting on the front porch having my morning coffee, the sun rising ever so slowly, I saw the presence of a gentle, white bearded old man who reached out to me and touched my shoulder giving me comfort. I explained my sadness to him, "my sister is dead." He replied, "I know, I'm here to ease your pain and stop your suffering." "What do you mean, how can you stop my suffering?" I asked, wiping the tears from my eyes.

Moments later I felled the pain and sorrow had eased. I turned around to thank the old man, but he was gone. Three days after the appearance of the white bearded old man, I found myself all alone outside, not a sound in the air. Suddenly, a gentle whisper of wind swirled around me, somehow relieving the guilt from my pain, that left me with the most comforting warmth and feeling in my heart. Although I couldn't see it, I felt a presence beside me like no other. It was during that moment that I finally realized, my sister "Sarah," bidding her final goodbye.