It was a bright Friday morning. The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and the leaves are falling, as the cold December wind blew. A little girl with a pink bandanna in her head could be seen lying in her bed. One thing you can notice is her pale face painted with a genuine smile as she sleeps peacefully.
A man enters the room. He lovingly caressed the little girl's face and carefully fixed the mattress.
"Wake up, sleepy head!" He showered her face with butterfly kisses. One pair of white lips smiled at him. As soon as the little girl's big brown eyes met the man's gaze, she beamed and said...
"Good morning, Dad! I dreamed of bright purple-petaled roses! Do they really exist?" She asked merrily.
"Of course they do, Sweetheart! The dream fairy won't let you dream about them if they don't, right?" Her Dad said as he pinched her cute nose.
"Right! When can I see those flowers then?" She asked as she weakly sat up and rested her fragile head into the bed's headrest.
"I'll ask your Aunt Elly to pick them for you, okay?" He offered his hands, asking if he could carry her seven-year old daughter out of bed. The latter gladly took them.
"Okay. You're the best Dad ever. I love you!" She lovingly said as she kissed her father's forehead.
"And I love you, too, little girl."
~*~
"The dream fairy gave me these, Ash!" April looked at the flowers that she is holding as if they are the most beautiful flowers she had ever seen while she is talking to her uninterested cousin.
Elly and Luke are both watching the two from afar. They shook their heads and smiled.
"Thank you for making my daughter's every dream come true." Luke sincerely said to her sister.
"Hey! Those flowers are just made of crepe paper, Luke. Cut the teen drama!" Elly playfully said, trying to lighten up the mood.
"Seriously. Thank you so much." He said.
"I would absolutely do anything for her, Luke. I want her remaining days to be.. uhh.. memorable."
A glint of sadness is seen her eyes as she utter those words... especially the last one.
Her mind gone to think deeply on how would they possibly deal with this little angel's... she can't even say it.
She was led back to her senses when she heard her son's mocking laugh and April's little sobs.
"Mommy! Look at her hair! Why don't she have a long hair like you?" Ashton asked while holding April's bandanna.
"Ashton, that's not right! Don't do it again." She scolded her son's misdoings while she wiped April's tears away and fixed her head.
"Apologize to your cousin, Ash." He murmured his sorry and ran upstairs.
"Kids can be bad sometimes." Luke said as he fixed her daughter's clothes.
"Yeah. Sorry for that. There you are little April! You look like your Mom. So beautiful! Right, Luke?"
"Couldn't agree more. Let's go! It's time for your therapy. We'll be late." Luke said as he grabbed his keys and kissed her sister's cheek for farewell.
"Therapy again, Dad? Would it be gentler this time?" April groaned and scratched her head.
Both Elly and Luke looked at each other and smiled sadly.
"Yes, Baby. It'll be gentle as Daddy's kisses and tickles." Luke enthusiastically said as he tickled her daughter making her giggle.
~*~
April is suffering because of this disease called leukemia. Few months ago, the doctor said that she only have limited time to live. And to make those remaining days memorable, every morning, it is already on Luke's daily routine to ask about her daughter's dream.
She often dreams weird things. But Elly always finds a way to make them happen. She also insists about the presence of the dream fairy.
Once, she dreamed a huge, colorful butterfly roaming around her room. That day, Elly bought a costume of a butterfly and happily danced and twirled with April until she got tired and fell asleep in her arms. When she woke up, she instantly asked "Where did the butterfly go?" They just said that the dream fairy already fetched the butterfly while she is fast asleep. But the latter promised that it will come back next time to play with her again.
She dreams of uncommon yet surprising side of things. All colorful. And bright.
But there is this one dream that made Luke and Elly lose their remaining strengths.
One week passed like a blink of an eye.
This time, April said that she dreamed of her Mom who died two years ago, with the same disease.
According to her, her Mom's face is all radiant and there were little star-shaped flowers in her long black hair.
Offering her hands to April as if asking to come with her.
"I took them, Dad. But you kissed me that's why I woke up." April said weakly to his Dad.
Elly looked sadly to her brother as she mouthed "Let her."
Tears were rushing down into Luke's cheeks as he kissed the side of her daughter's head.
"Don't, April. Don't leave Daddy yet. Please. Just one more minute." He said while holding April's tiny hands.
"Dad, I am sleepy." April said which made Luke cry harder.
He took a deep breath and tried not to stutter when he spoke.
"G-go back to sleep, Anak. Remember this, okay? I love you and your Mom. So much. Please kiss her for me."
"I will, Dad. Stop crying. I love you too. Can I go back to sleep now?" April said while smiling weakly.
"Y-yes. Sleep well, baby." He said as he gently tighten the grip around her daughter's little hand and kissed her forehead.
April's hand loosen as her breathing stopped.
It was a bright Friday morning. The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and the leaves are falling, as the cold December wind blew. A little girl with a pink bandanna in her head could be seen lying in her bed. One thing you can notice is her pale face painted with a genuine smile as she sleeps peacefully.