I was starting to look back at last Christmas as I sat there in the living room. This time last year, I was laying with my Beloved after moving in with her when my assistant accepted my offer to move into my house on a temporary basis. Who would have known in the space of a year that:
• My Beloved Marcie and I would be married.
• My friend Matt and his wife Shannon would have their first child.
• My assistant Aubrey would have been proposed to by her boyfriend Wesley.
Just the thought of those would have blown my mind. If one was to add the family drama on Marcie's side with her two sisters being single, it was an eventful year since last Christmas. It was then I looked over and saw the ring on Marcie's finger as she sat on the couch. Her feet were on the coffee table as usual when she played her game on her tablet. The Jade sparkled as I looked, reminding me of the attempt to surprise her last year with it. Unfortunately, it didn't work because she figured it out ahead of time. Luckily, I was able to surprise her with the matching necklace on New Year's.
"You okay, Leo?" she asked me.
I caught her eye and smiled.
"Just remembering last Christmas, Sweetheart. Are you sure there's not something you want this year?"
Last year, Marcie made me promise not to surprise her for Christmas. Her surprise to me was the Christmas Concert at the local university we went to. The one thing I was wishing for this year was that my leg would heal faster. Sitting in my recliner most of the time with my leg propped up was getting to me. Every time I thought of getting up, Marcie was right there to help me. It is wonderful for Marcie to be my angel of mercy, but I really wanted to see what I could do.
So, I did what any stupid male would do. I waited for her to go to the bathroom. She went to the bathroom in our bedroom, which meant she was out of sight. I then slowly lowered the lever on the side of my recliner. I started to put pressure on the armrests with my arms as both feet contacted the carpet. When I started to feel the pain in my leg, I gritted my teeth before allowing myself to fall back in the chair. I sat there defeated for a moment before I felt her eyes on me.
"Sometimes, I forget how stubborn you really are, Leo," she said in a tone that sounded more motherly than angelic.
"I wanted to..."
"...be off your legs for a few more months if you keep taking those chances," she finished.
By the time I looked up, her eyes were already blazing. I felt very small at that moment. I felt shame that I would try something that stupid. I felt bad because I angered Marcie. I looked down again before I felt her hand in my hair.
"I'm sorry, Leo," she whispered. "I know this is your first time breaking a bone. It's hard to be patient. I know this too well. What were you trying to get up for?"
I looked up at her, my eyes felt like they were about to cry.
"I just hate being helpless, Marcie. This stinks."
I felt her kiss the top of my head.
"You're not helpless, Baby. You just had to slow down for a while. In another month or so, you're going to be able to walk better and you'll be back to being the hero. The thing is even heroes need help sometimes. We're not all Superman."
It was that thought that seemed to soothe me initially. The rest of the day went without incident. We went to bed that night and after some snuggling, I fell asleep. The next morning was quiet initially. Marcie helped me to the dining area for breakfast. Then she helped me over to the recliner.
