| Always By Your Side Luis sat in the church waiting for mass to begin. The longer he sat there the more he dozed off. ‘One hell of a Christmas this is going to be!’ he thought to himself. Not only had he lost his precious Sheridan but he lost her twice. He knew he owed it to his family to move on and go back to work but he couldn’t. Sheridan was all he had to live for. He walked up the alter, got on his knees and began to pray. "Please God, send her back. I need her...I’m nothing without her. She was too young to die...it was too soon..we had so much to live for...together. Please.", Luis begged. He knew in his heart that it was too late and she wasn’t coming back...she was lying in the hospital living only on machines. The doctors said she was brain dead and the Crane family had given the order to let her go. They were shutting the machines that afternoon. He just had this little bit of hope that some kind of miracle would happen and she’d come back to him. Luis made his way back to the pew where his family was sitting and stared into space as father Lonigan held mass. * * * Luis slowly walked down the long corridor to Sheridan’s room. He dreaded the next few minutes. He’d spent everyday with Sheridan since she was unburied. Now this was the last time he’d see her. This was his time to say good-bye. Luis walked into the room and saw Sheridan lying so peacefully. She was so pale yet beautiful as ever. Tears began to escape his eyes. "Sheridan, I don’t understand why things had to be this way, I really don’t..I thought we were gonna have this great life together..I never got to say the things I meant to say. I love you Sheridan. I regret never telling you that while you were still alive. I’m sorry. Sorry I couldn’t save you. Sorry I didn’t ever tell you I love you. Sheridan I don’t know if any part of you can hear me but you will always be in my heart. You’re in a better place now , a pace where no one can hurt you, not even your family...I just wish I were with you." Before Luis realized what was going on, he heard a beeping that he had never heard while he was visiting Sheridan before. The next thing he knew, doctors and nurses had filled the room. As Luis tried to find out what was happening he found himself being pushed into the hall. After the commotion settled Luis finally found someone to tell him what happened. The nurse explained to him in the most amazed voice that for no obvious reason Sheridan had started to register brain activity. Luis jumped excitedly and started to head into Sheridan’s room when the nurse grabbed his arm. "She’s not out of the woods..She’s still in a coma." Luis took in what she’d said and headed in Sheridan's room. He sat down and took her hand in his and began to talk to her with a newfound hope. "Sheridan, I know you’re in there, I need you to come back to me. I love you so much. No one has ever made me feel the way you do. I need you I my life. Please Sheridan..I want to be able to show you how much I love you." Luis was interrupted when he heard Sheridan mumble something. Then he felt her squeeze his hand. "Oh my God...Sheridan" "Luis" She whispered hoarsely. "I’m right here...Sheridan..I'm not going anywhere." Luis said as he stroked her hand. He saw Sheridan smile weakly and it made his heart melt. Sheridan tried to move a little and Luis told her to rest and she was too weak to argue so she slept for a few hours. Luis stayed by her side most of the time she slept either holding her hand or kissing her cheek. When she woke, he was right there. "Have a nice rest my angel?" "Mmm perfect..you were the last person I saw when I went to sleep and the first person I saw when I woke up..I like that." "I can’t believe just this morning I was trying to figure out how I’d ever say good-bye to you and now I’m talking to you..You’re my Christmas miracle Sheridan! I love you so much..I didn’t know what I’d do without you." "They sent me back...They said it was too soon and we had too much to live for. They were right..we do..I love you Luis, more than anything." "I have an idea.." "What's that? Sheridan asked curiously. "Once you get outta here, you and me, we’ll go somewhere, get away so no one can interrupt us. How’s that?" Luis said happily. "I’d like that...a lot." Sheridan smiled as she yawned. "Why don’t you get some more rest?" "Will you stay with me?" Sheridan asked nervously. "I have some errands but I'll be back before you wake up." With that Sheridan drifted to sleep and Luis rushed outt o the store. He had so many things he wanted to buy her. Christmas gifts he had believed a few days earlier that he’d never be able to give her. Some of the things Luis bought were small silly things but they were things Luis knew only ha and Sheridan would appreciate. For one he bought a book called ‘Cooking made easy’...he thought they could share that. He bought another book called ‘Spain for Lovers.’ � � And then he bought a pair of earrings that he knew would look good on Sheridan. He’d seen them a few days earlier while he was out shopping for mama, Theresa, and Miguel. He instantly thought of Sheridan when he saw them. They were crystal blue gems set in 24-karat gold. After Luis made his purchases he rushed back to the hospital so he could be there before Sheridan woke up. Which he did. When Sheridan started to wake up Luis greeted her with a kiss on the hand. She smile and responded," You’re still here." "Well I told you I would be...I love you Sheridan, more than anything." "Luis...thank you for staying with me." "Sheridan...I’ll always be by your side...always. I love you more than life itself. When I thought you’d been shot and I could’ve prevented it, I was dieing inside. I gladly would’ve taken a bullet for you and the one time I left your side, you got shot, God I thought my life was over. Then Hank said you were alive and I had so much hope and then Eve said it was too late and I lost you all over again and I had no control over it. Now I have you again and nothing anyone can do take you away. I love you so much...Merry Christmas" Luis said as he picked up a Christmas bag and handed it to Sheridan. "For me? Aww....you shouldn’t have!" "You don’t know how much I wanted to..while I was shopping for gifts for Theresa and mama. All I saw were gifts I would’ve liked to give you but I thought I’d never get the opportunity. Now I can give you all the gifts I’ve ever wanted to and more!" "I love you!" Sheridan said gleefully. "I love you too." Luis whispered as he stared into her eyes with more passions than he knew he possessed. Sheridan began to open her gifts and with each one, from Luis’ heart she felt more and more love. * * * Luis stayed with Sheridan nearly the entire time she was at the hospital; the only time he left her was to go to her cottage to make sure everything was perfect for her homecoming. It was Christmas Eve when Luis brought Sheridan home and they spent the whole night together alone. Luis waited on Sheridan hand and foot and she got nervous every time he was out of her sight for more than a few minutes. She didn’t want to lose him again nor did he want to lose her. When morning came, Luis greeted Sheridan with breakfast-in-bed. "Good morning my love." Luis said as she slowly began to wake up. When she realized what was going on she started to open her mouth but Luis cut her off. "I figured we could try this again, but this time I made something much simpler." Sheridan laughed as Luis placed the tray in front of her. * * * After she was done eating Luis moved the food tray then pulled out a long rectangular black box. "I have one more Christmas present for you." Sheridan opened the box and saw a silver bracelet with her name monogrammed on it. "Turn it over." Sheridan turned over the bracelet to read the inscription, ’Always by your side-Love Luis’ Sheridan grabbed Luis and wrapped him up in her arms, "God I love you more and more each second!" "Good", Luis laughed, "Then maybe one day I’ll be able to get you to marry me." "Maybe? I don’t think you’ll have a problem with that! I don’t think it’s possible to ever love anyone else the way I love you." "Good..stay here." Luis said as he jumped up. "Wait.. w-where are you going?" Sheridan said, but it was too late, Luis was already out of the room. Luis came back a few moments later and pulled out a small black box as he sat on the bed. "I bought this for you the day you woke up. I had no clue when I’d give it to you but I knew it would be son... So here’s the deal. I love you with all my heart...and a whole lot more and I don’t know how I ever got lucky enough to fall in love with someone as wonderful as you, one thing I know for sure is I want to spend the rest of my life making you as happy as I am just thinking of you. Will you marry me and be my wife Sheridan?" Luis asked as he opened the box to reveal a platinum set engagement ring with a sapphire in the center and two perfect diamonds on each side. Sheridan stared at Luis in shock with tears in her eyes. When she finally found her voice she managed to say ‘yes’ and jump into Luis’ arms. "Yes yes yes a million times!" I love you so much Luis!" Sheridan exclaimed as Luis slid the ring onto her finger. |