A Christmas Wish - Diana Noire
2294 Words
A Christmas Wish - By Diana Noire, with a special shout out to Tina Cyr for the inspiration.
In the heart of St. Michael’s children’s hospital, the atmosphere buzzed with a sense of controlled chaos. The shrill sound of the fire alarm reverberated through the halls as I, clad in my crisp uniform, took charge. My eyes scanned the group of children, each donned in a tiny reflective vest, standing in the orderly line of evacuation. They all looked adorable, curiosity and excitement sparking in their eyes.
“Hold still everyone, it’ll take just a few more minutes.”
I looked around the hospital’s hall where we had gathered. The usually sterile and dull environment had transformed into a magical wonderland. Twinkling lights adorned the walls, casting a warm and comforting glow. Paper snowflakes, crafted by the little patients with the help of caring staff, dangled from the ceiling, creating a whimsical dance with every gentle breeze. Handmade stockings, bursting with color, adorned the nurses’ station, patiently awaiting surprises. The scent of cinnamon and pine wafted through the air, emanating from the garlands strung along the corridor. Soft carols played in the background, creating a symphony of holiday joy.
The Christmas decorations served as a beacon of hope and cheer, lifting the spirits of both the children and the dedicated healthcare professionals. However, for many young patients spending holidays away from their families, a sense of loneliness lingered. To alleviate this, the hospital chief had a brilliant idea—organizing a fire drill to engage the children’s minds and offer a distraction during the festive season.
With a clipboard in hand, I began the crucial task of counting the children in my care. As I meticulously tallied the numbers, a furrow creased my brow. The count didn’t add up. Frowning, I counted once more, my gaze sweeping across the small faces.
It didn’t take me long to spot the mischievous grin of Lily, a spirited little girl with long black hair who had strategically shifted from the front to the back.
“Lily, what are you doing here?” I met her gaze, my expression stern yet kind.
The girl giggled, unaware of the potential consequences. She was only four years old, and it all seemed to be a game to her. In a hushed tone, I crouched down to her eye level, explaining the gravity of their fire drill.
“What if there was a real fire?” My words held a weight beyond the immediate situation. “What if you got lost and nobody could find you anymore?”
Lily’s grin faded, replaced by a thoughtful look as the gravity of the situation settled in. The hospital’s fire drill was not just a routine; it was a lesson in discipline that could make all the difference in an emergency.
“Santa won’t get you any presents if you’re a bad girl.” Vanessa chimed in; her hands folded on her chest. She was a bit older than Lily, and they shared a room.
“I am sorry, Nurse Betty. Please, don’t tell Santa on me.” Lily said regretfully, her lower lip twitching. Patting her on her tiny shoulder, I gave her a warm smile of reassurance. I didn’t want the child to be stressed.
“If you promise not to do it again, we can forget about it.”
“But what about Santa?”
“You don’t need to worry, Lily. He knows how sorry you are, are and won’t be mad. So, do we have a deal?”
The girl nodded eagerly, returning to her original spot, and focusing on following the instructions. Resuming my count, I ran through the numbers again, but the total still didn’t add up.
A sinking feeling gripped my heart as the realization dawned—someone was missing. With a heavy heart, I approached the head nurse, confessing my inability to locate patient Timmy Daniels.
“What do you mean you’re missing a child, Betty?!” The head nurse, initially bewildered, scolded me for my oversight.
“I can’t explain it. I thought I saw him, but then I didn’t.” Panic started to show, forming a tremble in my voice. She must have seen the terror in my eyes and realized my genuine concern for Timmy’s safety. The head nurse’s expression softened, and she hugged me.
“Why don’t you go check his room? I’m certain he’s just hiding. I’ll look after your group in the meantime.” She suggested.
With a newfound determination, I set out to find Timmy, hoping he was safe and sound in his room. But as I entered Timmy’s room, my heart sank further when I found it empty. Fear gripped me. Although single and not yet a mother, I cared for my patients as if they were my own.
What if Timmy’s hurt?
Frantically, I scoured the hospital, worry etched on my face. In my determined search, navigating the hospital’s corridors with urgency, I unexpectedly found myself in a mysterious encounter. A collision with a firefighter disrupted my path, creating a moment suspended in time.
A gasp escaped my lips, as I almost fell, but his strong hand caught me in the nick of time. Our eyes locked, and in that strange magical moment, I found myself captivated by his charming, handsome presence. His electrifying smile made me speechless.
“Are you alright?”
“Um…”
No, I wasn’t alright. I should have been worried sick. Instead, I got completely distracted by this good-looking man. As shame crept in, I swiftly pulled away from the firefighter’s embrace.
“A patient is missing. He’s only five years old.”
“Let me help you look for him then.” He offered, a smile not leaving his face. “I’m Dax, by the way.”
“Betty.” I mumbled, avoiding his gaze. I had to remind myself about my priorities.
As the worries grew in me, I became grateful to Dax for joining forces in the quest to find Timmy. The hospital’s interior yielded no clues, and we made our way into the crisp December night. The chilly air wrapped around us as we stepped into the festively adorned parking lot. The twinkling lights of Santa’s sleigh display illuminated the winter sky.
And there, surrounded by the holiday decorations, a heartwarming discovery awaited us. A sigh of relief emerged from my throat as I noticed Timmy in his dinosaur pajamas, wide-eyed with wonder, sitting inside the sleigh. His innocent curiosity had led him to a magical hiding spot, oblivious to the concern he had sparked.
“Timmy! What in the heavens are you doing outside? You’ll catch a cold.” I rushed to the little rascal, cursing internally that I hadn’t brought any blankets with me. As if he could read my thoughts, Dax followed my steps, taking off his thick jacket and handing it to me. Promptly, I covered the boy in it.
“Nurse Betty, look! Santa left his sleigh in here.” His hands carefully touched the colorful wrappings and ribbons of the presents. They were just decorations, empty boxes, but Timmy didn’t know that.
“Timmy, you were not supposed to leave the group. We were in the middle of the fire drill!” I was still in shock and frightened to the bone. If anything happened to him, I would never forgive myself.
Barely catching my breath, as it began mixing with sobs, I felt Dax’s hand twining with my own, squeezing it. His touch was warm, providing the necessary comfort. He winked at me, an inaudible ‘let me handle this’, and then he climbed inside the sleigh, taking a seat next to Timmy.
“Hey there, buddy.” He said in a gentle tone.
“Whoa, are you a real firefighter?” Timmy’s curiosity manifested as his mouth parted slightly.
“You bet I am,” Dax announced proudly. “I heard you gave everyone quite a scare today. But you know what? It’s okay because we found you, and that’s what matters. Now, I want to tell you something important. Fire drills are like magical games that help practice staying safe. When you disappeared, it worried Nurse Betty and all of us. We care about you, Timmy, and we want you to understand how important it is to stay with everyone during these drills. Can you promise us that next time, you’ll stay close, so we can all be safe together?”
“I saw the sleigh from the window. I only wanted to check it out.” The boy lowered his gaze, his tone apologetic.
“I know, buddy. But next time when something catches your interest, will you tell Nurse Betty first?”
“I will.”
“Shall we seal the deal with a handshake?” Dax extended his hand, and Timmy eagerly accepted it, a sense of pride filling his innocent heart.
A smile adorned my face as I observed the interaction between the big and little man engaged in conversation. Dax was remarkably good with children, adding to his charm in my eyes. I mentally noted to express my gratitude to him properly once we returned inside.
“Nurse Betty, are you angry with me?” Timmy, realizing the impact of his actions, glanced at me sadly.
“No, Timmy. But let’s get you inside for some hot cocoa.”
I took him into my arms, his small limbs wrapping around me in a heartfelt hug. I smiled, grateful for the safety of the little boy I cared for like my own.
“When I’m big, I will be a firefighter too.” He whispered into my ear. Yes, who wouldn’t want to be a firefighter with such a great role model?
My gaze wandered to Dax, as he walked beside us. “Come to the nurses’ station before you leave. I have a small “Thank You” gift for you.”
“You don’t need to do that.”
“But I want to. Please.”
With everything back to normal, the children buzzed with excitement after the engaging presentation by the firefighters. The fire drill had gone smoothly, leaving the kids thrilled about their newfound knowledge. In the evening, they gathered to draw pictures depicting firefighters in action, their creativity flowing as they portrayed the heroes at work. As bedtime approached, the little ones chatted animatedly about their unique experience, sharing stories and laughs before drifting off to sleep with hearts full of excitement and wonder.
Returning to the nurses’ station, my heart leaped in my chest as I spotted Dax waiting for me. Despite the chaos of the day, there were several occasions where we exchanged glances. I could feel my cheeks coloring red as his smile made me constantly blush. I liked watching Dax at work. He was a natural talent, catching the attention of all children. And mine as well.
“I need to get back to my duties.” He informed me. “But I couldn’t leave without saying goodbye to my favorite nurse.”
Oh, I am blushing again. Was I imagining things or was the firefighter flirting with me?
“Thank you for your assistance during the fire drill. And, you know, with Timmy.” I handed him a special gift I prepared for him, a small token of gratitude for his help. It was a stocking I had knitted myself, filled with cookies.
“Did you bake the cookies?” Dax inquired, his eyes lighting up as he immediately stuffed his mouth with one of the chocolate-chip treats.
“I did.” I replied, a hint of pride in my voice. I have always been famous for my cookies.
“Yum! They are delicious. I could eat the whole bucket of these.” He praised, his appreciation warming my heart.
“Thank you.” My cheeks already burned red at the compliment.
Dax paused, a mischievous glint in his eye. “It is very kind of you, Betty, but to be frank, I was hoping to find your number inside it.”
I gaped, startled by his straightforwardness. Not that the idea hadn’t crossed my mind, but I truly didn’t think Dax was interested in me.
Amused, he asked, “Am I overstepping here?” when met with my silence.
“No. I just didn’t expect it.” I finally managed to respond, a mixture of surprise and flattery in my voice.
“Well, can you blame me? Meeting a smart, beautiful, and kindhearted lady has always been my secret Christmas wish.”
I took a decisive step behind the counter at the nurses’ station, my heart pounding in my chest. Swiftly, I grabbed a piece of paper and pen, my fingers dancing with anticipation. With a confident stroke, I wrote down my number, the ink drying quickly on the page. Clutching the paper, I returned to where Dax was, handing it to him with a shy yet inviting smile.
“Let’s make that wish come true then.”
As our hands touched in the exchange, a subtle but undeniable spark ignited between us. Time seemed to pause for a fleeting moment, the air charged with an electric energy that hinted at something beyond the ordinary. And we were both left with a sense that this unexpected twist might lead to something extraordinary.
***
Diana’s work on Dreame:
Pen name Diana Dee B.
Completed books:
The Blind Bond
The Return of the Prodigal Alpha
Alpha King & his Trophy
His H(a)unted Mate
Diana’s publications on Am.az.on:
Pen name Diana Noire
Available on presale from: Masked Temptation
3 books planned to be self-published in 2024
Diana’s socials:
F.B group: Diana’s Ink & Insights
In.sta.gram: author_diananoire
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