The Light in the Dark (completed)

Merry christmas

The week after.

I wake to shaking from a very excited Ginny.

"Hey." I say sleepily rubbing my eyes.

It's Christmas! Ginny signs excitedly.

"Yeah." I smile and slide off the bed. "Let's go wake Zach." I smile and lead Ginny and her little reindeer pants and candy cane top through the stairwell and sneak into Zach's room. His roommate was practically never there. Mostly away at parties or ditching class.

       Ginny holds her finger to her mouth and smiles mischievously as she crawls slyly to Zach's bed and jumps on his back slightly. He jerks slightly and then his eyes open groggily.

Gosh you look rough. Ginny signs and I laugh. It's Christmas Zach!

"Oh right." Zach sits up and straps up his prosthetic. "Wanna go out to a really good breakfast place?" Ginny nods eagerly.

"Let's go get ready." I say to Ginny.

•••

You look pretty. Ginny notes smiling when she comes out of the bathroom in a red shirt and black leggings.

"Thank you." I smile happily and take her hand. We meet Zach at the entrance at the college.

"Hey Ginny." Zach says picking her up. She leans into him just like a small child like her would. "Merry Christmas." He says tickling her gently. I think about what great a dad he could be. He would be. Maybe. But is it terrible to wish he'd give that up for me? With my stupid residue from my cancer treatments. Having kids wasn't even an option for me.

"Coming?" Zach teases.

"Yeah." I wipe the sorrow off my ace but I think Zach already caught it.

"You okay?" Zach asks me. I just look at him with Ginny casually resting on his hip hanging off of his shoulder.

"I'm fine." I assure him and tuck my hair behind my ear.

"Okay." Zach says but gives me that look like he knows he'll get it out of me eventually. We go in the restaurant and sit at a booth. Me and Zach in one side and Ginny on the other.

"Why don't you go wash your hands?" I ask her and she nods going to the back of the building.

"What's wrong?" He asks.

"Just thinking." I shrug trying to make it out as nonchalant.

"About?" Zach nudges me with his shoulder.

"Life." I say even if I'm only half honest.

"Why?" Zach asks.

"Because it'll be coming sooner than later. Once we are out of college we are alone." I shrug.

"You can tell me the rest later if you want." Zach says knowingly. I fight off a smile that he knows exactly what i was thinking.

"Think what you want." I smile as Ginny runs back and leans against the table.

"What do you want to eat? French toast as usual?" Zach asks Ginny and she nods eagerly.

We all order once an older women comes by.

"So how's school going?" I ask.

I don't know. The same as always I guess. She shrugs. I remember how hard school was. Especially being homeschooled with people you had to know.

"I know." I smile weakly. Zach looks at be questioningly.

Does it get better? Asks Ginny. I think for a moment. Should I tell her the truth?

"Only if you let it. It can or it can't and sometimes that revolves around the people around you."

I hope. She says thoughtfully.

•••

Ginny has known better than to believe in things that aren't there. Sometimes she doesn't even believe the things that are there. Just like I did. And sometimes it's good to have trust issues. But the innocence of a kid that believes in Santa is gone in her. But she still enjoys this holiday. A holiday I only regretted as a kid.

"You think she will like it?" Zach asks me.

"I guess." I shrug and sit against the wall on my bed that Zach has joined be on while Ginny rushes to open the two presents she's got. The first one from Zach that she opens is a tiny necklace that is big on her but has a little light purple wire that is bent into beautiful letters that spells out Ginny.

Beautiful! She holds it in front of her as though inspecting it.

"Told you she's like it." I smile. Then she opens mine. Just a necklace that goes with the one Zach gave her but is tighter and doesn't go down as low. A little infinity sign at the bottom. Ginny smiles and crawls up between us.

       "It resembles forever. Without an end." I smile and pull Ginny so she's curled up between us.

       Thank you. Ginny smiles and snuggles in between us.

       "Love you." I whisper to both of them leaning my head on Zach's shoulder.

       "I love you too." Zach smiles and kisses my forehead.

       "Merry Christmas." I smile and let the soft snow fall outside my window.

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Authors note!

This is the end guys I'm sorry😥 the sequel will probably be out tonight so be ready!! YAY!

⚡️Darcy⚡️