Do You Believe?
by
Serena Slade
by
Serena Slade
CONTEST
e-mail your comments,
please reference the title of
the article in your e-mail.
please reference the title of
the article in your e-mail.
“Do you believe in Santa Claus?” said a little snot nose kid tugging on the massive trench coat
standing next to him. “Hu?, Well do you mister?” Visibly discouraged the kid gave up and
rejoined his mother who was waiting in line to pay for a scarf.
He had ignored the tyke. In fact he had actually been oblivious to his presence altogether.
Victor Blum was tall, dark and stern. He had strong square features that became enhanced over
the years, not as a result of time past, but rather, from extreme experience. His hardened
appearance came from inward, projecting something almost evil to his outward look.
Victor was not an unattractive man by any means, but certainly not one you would approach
carelessly. He stood motionless fixated on a young woman hard at work behind a make-up
counter.
The little boy, safe at his mother’s side gazed back at Victor one last time before his mother
collected her purchase and scooted her son along, vacating the department.
It was Christmas Eve and last minute shopper scurried through the mall making there final
purchases. One after the other passed by Victor as he stood silent in the midst of mortals. No
one paid him any bother, racing by him left and right.
Behind the make up counter, the girl in Victor’s sights, moved quickly, cheerfully. Her pale
completion gave her a doll-like appearance. Dark wavy hair fell softly around her subtle
features and over her shoulders.
Finishing up a gift wrap for a young man, she jovially joked with; she glanced up and spotted
Victor, a statue, across the room. She stepped back, almost dizzy. Looking around nervously,
she grabbed the counter trying to regain her composure.
“Angela” she called to her co-worker. “I need a break. Be right back.” She took a deep breath
and left the counter, walking slowly, painfully in Victor’s direction.
Victor watched her every move, but his stone-like expression did not falter. She stood in front
of him, studying his face. It was hard for her to speak. And even as she said the words, they
appeared to be coming from somewhere else. “What are you doing here?” she said sternly in
the tone that demanded an answer.
Victor paused uncomfortably long, searching for the least ridiculous thought he could manage
to utter out loud. “It’s Christmas, Candice”.
“It’s been over eighty years – father”, she said with a sarcastic tone. “And what now, you’re
feeling sentimental? Give me a break”. She turned abruptly “leave me alone.
Victor forcefully grabbed Candice’s arm and pulled her back to him with such force she slightly
left the ground. His voice became a growl with a low deep undertone. “Show me some
respect. Do not forget who I am”.
His force and presence where terrifying, but Candice wasn't intimidated. Shaking herself free,
she whispered with rage. “You are a selfish son of a bitch – that’s who you are. “Why, why
did you....?”
“You were all I had. I was all you had, when your mother died, I couldn’t bare the thought of
you going through life alone.”
“You mean YOU couldn’t bare the thought of going through life alone – forever. Could you
dad? Do you know what you’ve done to me? Loosing friends year after year – having to move
because I never age. I can’t love, I can’t live, yet that’s all I do. Live and live and live with no
life at all.
“I couldn’t have bared you getting old. I couldn’t have bared your death.”
“Yet you disappear so you don’t have to face this hell of a prison you’ve created for me.”
“You hated me, I knew you needed time.”
“Time – 80 years dad.” “Look I’ve got to go. Leave me alone now. I need a little more
time.” Her sarcasm was felt. She started to turn away. “It’s Christmas, you’re feeling
sentimental? – go to church.”
“Candice, wait. I’ve brought you a gift”.
“Oh come on dad, haven’t you given me enough/” She continued to exit.
“It’s from your mother – something she cherished”. She asked me to give it to you. She asked
me to give it to you once you became a woman, when you were mature. Once you had
experienced enough so that you might understand and forgive”.
Candice stopped in her tracks. Victor reached a small rectangular ornate wooden box to his
daughter.
There was a letter on top sealed with wax. Under it laid her mother’s cross. The cross she
wore daily, handed down from her great grandmother.
My darling Candice,
Please forgive me for the grief that has embarked on our family. By now you know all the
torture that our existence has layer upon us.
Candice looked up at her father. “Mother?”
Victor nodded – deep sorrow in his eyes.
Candice returned her attention to the letter.
When the monster came and raped me and took my soul, and everything we thought our future
had in store for us, your father cursed revenge. I contemplated suicide, but your father stopped
me, as that is the ultimate Godly sin. Your father could not stand the thought of me going
through this life on my own. He demanded that he join me so that we could comfort each other
and perhaps find a way through this existence.
If we would have known that my makeup would eventually not embrace it, and that I would
find peace in death, I never would have agreed to change your father’s mortality. And I never
would have asked him to change yours..
Candice became weak in the knees. As she read on she struggled to maintain her composure.
When my fate changed and death was eminent, you were a young vibrant girl, just 20. I knew a
sacrifice for our family would be incomprehensible to you. But regardless this time I demanded
it from your father. And with this letter I’m writing now, on my deathbed, I want you to know
that he change your mortality so that he would not suffer an eternity alone, on my request. I’m
sure there are very few of us and we have discussed many of the horrors that lay before you.
But we are a family. A family that is built on love and friendship. Your father is a very decent
man, who gave up the ultimate sacrifice for me. So I as your mother have asked the same of
you, our daughter. You will have each other now. Each other to understand one another.
Please understand that I couldn’t let your father go this alone. Your father is very angry with
me but I made him keep his promise to myself and God that he would have you join him in the
eternal life.
I love you very much and know that you, my daughter, will step up and understand.
With all my love,
Your mother Emily
Candice stood weak; her arms fell to her sides.
“I was weak. I just didn’t want you to despise your mother.” Victor said.” It’s taken me this
long to face you. But it’s time Candice. It’s time to become a family again.”
Candice moved closer to her father. “If you only would have…”
“I think it was easier to have you hate me – because I despise deeply, so deeply what I’ve done
to you.”
Victor pulled his daughter into a close, warm embrace. Neither Victor, nor Candice could
speak. There was so much to say, and all the time in the world to say it. Victor took the cross
from the box and fastened it around his daughter’s neck.
Candice took her father’s hands. “You weren’t kidding when you said you had a gift for me. I
thought, well I thought.” Her words came hard.
Victor put his finger over his lips. “Shhh. Now Candice. “Let’s have a real Christmas Eve
together. Something I’ve dreamt about for a very long time.
1328 words
standing next to him. “Hu?, Well do you mister?” Visibly discouraged the kid gave up and
rejoined his mother who was waiting in line to pay for a scarf.
He had ignored the tyke. In fact he had actually been oblivious to his presence altogether.
Victor Blum was tall, dark and stern. He had strong square features that became enhanced over
the years, not as a result of time past, but rather, from extreme experience. His hardened
appearance came from inward, projecting something almost evil to his outward look.
Victor was not an unattractive man by any means, but certainly not one you would approach
carelessly. He stood motionless fixated on a young woman hard at work behind a make-up
counter.
The little boy, safe at his mother’s side gazed back at Victor one last time before his mother
collected her purchase and scooted her son along, vacating the department.
It was Christmas Eve and last minute shopper scurried through the mall making there final
purchases. One after the other passed by Victor as he stood silent in the midst of mortals. No
one paid him any bother, racing by him left and right.
Behind the make up counter, the girl in Victor’s sights, moved quickly, cheerfully. Her pale
completion gave her a doll-like appearance. Dark wavy hair fell softly around her subtle
features and over her shoulders.
Finishing up a gift wrap for a young man, she jovially joked with; she glanced up and spotted
Victor, a statue, across the room. She stepped back, almost dizzy. Looking around nervously,
she grabbed the counter trying to regain her composure.
“Angela” she called to her co-worker. “I need a break. Be right back.” She took a deep breath
and left the counter, walking slowly, painfully in Victor’s direction.
Victor watched her every move, but his stone-like expression did not falter. She stood in front
of him, studying his face. It was hard for her to speak. And even as she said the words, they
appeared to be coming from somewhere else. “What are you doing here?” she said sternly in
the tone that demanded an answer.
Victor paused uncomfortably long, searching for the least ridiculous thought he could manage
to utter out loud. “It’s Christmas, Candice”.
“It’s been over eighty years – father”, she said with a sarcastic tone. “And what now, you’re
feeling sentimental? Give me a break”. She turned abruptly “leave me alone.
Victor forcefully grabbed Candice’s arm and pulled her back to him with such force she slightly
left the ground. His voice became a growl with a low deep undertone. “Show me some
respect. Do not forget who I am”.
His force and presence where terrifying, but Candice wasn't intimidated. Shaking herself free,
she whispered with rage. “You are a selfish son of a bitch – that’s who you are. “Why, why
did you....?”
“You were all I had. I was all you had, when your mother died, I couldn’t bare the thought of
you going through life alone.”
“You mean YOU couldn’t bare the thought of going through life alone – forever. Could you
dad? Do you know what you’ve done to me? Loosing friends year after year – having to move
because I never age. I can’t love, I can’t live, yet that’s all I do. Live and live and live with no
life at all.
“I couldn’t have bared you getting old. I couldn’t have bared your death.”
“Yet you disappear so you don’t have to face this hell of a prison you’ve created for me.”
“You hated me, I knew you needed time.”
“Time – 80 years dad.” “Look I’ve got to go. Leave me alone now. I need a little more
time.” Her sarcasm was felt. She started to turn away. “It’s Christmas, you’re feeling
sentimental? – go to church.”
“Candice, wait. I’ve brought you a gift”.
“Oh come on dad, haven’t you given me enough/” She continued to exit.
“It’s from your mother – something she cherished”. She asked me to give it to you. She asked
me to give it to you once you became a woman, when you were mature. Once you had
experienced enough so that you might understand and forgive”.
Candice stopped in her tracks. Victor reached a small rectangular ornate wooden box to his
daughter.
There was a letter on top sealed with wax. Under it laid her mother’s cross. The cross she
wore daily, handed down from her great grandmother.
My darling Candice,
Please forgive me for the grief that has embarked on our family. By now you know all the
torture that our existence has layer upon us.
Candice looked up at her father. “Mother?”
Victor nodded – deep sorrow in his eyes.
Candice returned her attention to the letter.
When the monster came and raped me and took my soul, and everything we thought our future
had in store for us, your father cursed revenge. I contemplated suicide, but your father stopped
me, as that is the ultimate Godly sin. Your father could not stand the thought of me going
through this life on my own. He demanded that he join me so that we could comfort each other
and perhaps find a way through this existence.
If we would have known that my makeup would eventually not embrace it, and that I would
find peace in death, I never would have agreed to change your father’s mortality. And I never
would have asked him to change yours..
Candice became weak in the knees. As she read on she struggled to maintain her composure.
When my fate changed and death was eminent, you were a young vibrant girl, just 20. I knew a
sacrifice for our family would be incomprehensible to you. But regardless this time I demanded
it from your father. And with this letter I’m writing now, on my deathbed, I want you to know
that he change your mortality so that he would not suffer an eternity alone, on my request. I’m
sure there are very few of us and we have discussed many of the horrors that lay before you.
But we are a family. A family that is built on love and friendship. Your father is a very decent
man, who gave up the ultimate sacrifice for me. So I as your mother have asked the same of
you, our daughter. You will have each other now. Each other to understand one another.
Please understand that I couldn’t let your father go this alone. Your father is very angry with
me but I made him keep his promise to myself and God that he would have you join him in the
eternal life.
I love you very much and know that you, my daughter, will step up and understand.
With all my love,
Your mother Emily
Candice stood weak; her arms fell to her sides.
“I was weak. I just didn’t want you to despise your mother.” Victor said.” It’s taken me this
long to face you. But it’s time Candice. It’s time to become a family again.”
Candice moved closer to her father. “If you only would have…”
“I think it was easier to have you hate me – because I despise deeply, so deeply what I’ve done
to you.”
Victor pulled his daughter into a close, warm embrace. Neither Victor, nor Candice could
speak. There was so much to say, and all the time in the world to say it. Victor took the cross
from the box and fastened it around his daughter’s neck.
Candice took her father’s hands. “You weren’t kidding when you said you had a gift for me. I
thought, well I thought.” Her words came hard.
Victor put his finger over his lips. “Shhh. Now Candice. “Let’s have a real Christmas Eve
together. Something I’ve dreamt about for a very long time.
1328 words