Reality || Christmas special (part 2)

Instructions

This one is about what Christmas Eve was like for 6 year old Emily. The same year as the last part, hope you enjoy! Because I enjoyed writing it! __ I’ve been looking around the building, and noticed there aren’t as many people as usual. Most of the guards and scientists are gone. I wonder what’s up, the only person I really see is my caretaker, Brooklyn. She’s younger than most people in the building, with long blonde hair, and brown eyes. She’s been like a guardian for me, taking care of me since I started to walk. Brooklyn and I were outside, doing martial arts practice with the coach, working on kick-boxing, we only started training a few weeks ago, and I’m not sure why, or what I’m training for. “Where is everybody?” I asked Brooklyn while we were in my room after practice, sitting crisscrossed next to each other on the military green bed. “They’re going home to their families for Christmas.” She explained. “Christmas?” I asked, I've never heard of something like that, it sounds a bit strange and interesting. “You really don’t know what Christmas is?” She asked, tilting her head with a confused look. I nodded, saying “What is it?” “Christmas is only the best and happiest time of year, getting presents, singing carols, waiting for Santa to come.” She said happily. I just got more confused. “Who’s Santa?” I asked. She let out a huge sigh, and explained everything about Christmas, and how there’s a fat old man riding on a sled pulled by strange deer that fly, giving toys to the nice kids of the world for some reason. It was interesting, and sounded really fun! “Are you going to leave for Christmas?” I asked. She nodded saying, “I’m leaving after you go to bed tonight, but Mrs. Stern will be here for you until I come back at New Years.” That made me a bit sad, even though Mrs. Stern is really nice. “I’ll miss you a lot.” I sighed. Brooklyn’s smile came back, “It’ll only be a few days, I’ll be sure to bring you something when I come back.” She said, bumping my shoulder. My smile came back after that, and I gave her a hug. I've never had a mom, Brooklyn is the closest person I have to one, and I'm glad to have her. She checked her watch and sighed, “Welp, it’s dinner time, let’s go.” She said, standing up and going to the door, I jumped off the bed and scurried to her, then we went to the cafeteria. I had turkey with some veggies for dinner, wasn’t much of a fan of the broccoli, but the turkey was delicious! After we ate, we went back to my room to talk more about Christmas, and every word made me want to set up for Santa tonight! “Can we set up a Christmas tree?” I asked Brooklyn while she was talking. “Umm, they may not have any here.” She said in a whispered voice. “Can we make our own.” I asked next. She scratched her head in thought. “Maybe we can find green paper, do you want to help me cut some?” She offered. I got so excited, I felt like jumping on the walls. “Yes! Can we make paper ornaments too?” I yelled. She gave a big smile saying, “I guess we have work to do.” Brooklyn left for a while, and came back with LOTS of pretty colored paper, with scissors and crayons too. I started to draw ornament shapes into the paper, while Brooklyn worked on the tree. I drew deer, snowflakes, and other winter things, then Brooklyn helped me cut them out. When the tree was done, we set it up in the corner of the room. It wasn’t much taller than me, but I thought it was perfect! We hung the ornaments on, and brought lanterns for the light. When we were done, it was bed time. So Brooklyn helped me put pjs covered in glittery snowflakes on, and brushed my teeth. She tucked me in my bed, and said goodnight. “I wish you could stay.” I said when she was about to leave. She turned around, and sat at the end of my bed. “I wish I could too, but my family is waiting for me.” “I wish I had one.” I sighed, it was hard to hold back the tears. Then she scooted up to me, and squeezed me with a hug, wiping my tears. “Don’t I count as family?” She asked. I thought for a little, then nodded lightly. “There you go-” She sighed, brushing the back of my head and ears. “I’ll be okay, it’s only a few days.” We stayed there for a while, savoring the moment, until she told me it was time to sleep. She gave a me kiss on the head, and left the room with a final goodnight, and a ‘Merry Christmas.’ I couldn’t sleep for the first few moments, I don’t want Brooklyn to leave. But I kept telling myself that she’ll be fine, and Mrs. Stern will take care of me, and I finally drifted to sleep. I had dreams of having a wonderful Christmas, filled with colorful lights, and lot’s of presents. When I woke up in the morning, I looked over to the tiny paper tree, and underneath, with red gift wrapping paper, and a shiny green bow, was a small present.