A Candy Candy Christmas Carol

Life is a series of happenings and events, all interconnected with each other, for the actions of one individual will influence the outcomes of another. Yet when a person decides to live selfishly instead of minding the greater good of all, they may find themselves on a path that will ultimately find them living their days in sadness and sorrow, incomplete... unless they decide to change....

Suzanne Marlowe sat in her wheelchair, shifting her weight a little, to try to stave the future discomfort of sitting improperly settled in. Her amputated leg was giving her trouble as of late. Her fiancé Terrence Grantchester, ever mindful of her health, had taken her to her physician.

The doctor cleared his throat. "I am sorry to break this news to you, but unless you get out of that wheelchair and use a prosthesis, the course has been set already... your body is atrophying in this area, the nerves are starting to deaden... sitting long hours in the wheelchair only makes it worse..."

"You have mud in your ears, Doctor?" she shrilled, not wanting to hear his opinion. "How many times have I told you that I know I cannot walk anymore... I don't want to use a prosthesis!!" She tried to hide the hint of desperation, for she knew the slight hold she had on her fiancé was because she was so dependent on him for everything. Being upright again, with a prosthesis, would signal the sort of independence she did not want to display. "This is Christmas Eve, I should not be upset like this by your mendacity!!"

"Suzanne, listen to reason..." his English velvet voice gently tried to coax her, his hand on hers trying to give her strength.

She disdainfully removed Terrence's hand from hers. "Why won't anybody listen to ME!!! I don't want it!! Nobody cares about what I want!!!"

"Suzanne, you know that I..." he started.

"Of course you don't care for what I want, you are just trying to figure out how to leave me... you don't care... after I gave my life for you!!!" she wailed.

"Suzanne, you know that I chose you..." he said in a quiet voice, the corners of his eyes pained. "We will get through this together... but I don't want to have you suffer anymore..."

"I won't do it!! No!!! Now take me home!!!" she commanded, having heard enough.

The doctor and Terrence exchanged a look. Terry knew the Doctor was right, but who could talk his fiancé into otherwise? She refused to see the inevitable truth.

"Now, take me Christmas shopping to Bloomingdale's. I want to decorate our flat!!" she said, once they were outside. "I need some cheering up!!!"

"Suzanne, I have final dress rehearsals today, before the 9pm performance tonight, you know that..." he reminded her.

She gave an imperious toss of her head. "Humph! You can quote Dicken's backwards in your sleep! You are Robert's star moneymaker. He should know that I need you more. What's your worry Terry. You have played that Bob Cratchit role for the last 2 years now. Besides, wouldn't you want to spend your afternoon with me instead, after I have been so sorely upset with that stupid doctor today??? You have the performance tonight, what's your worry?"

"Very well, Suzanne, what ever you say... I'll send a message to Robert..." he acquiesced.

The New York snowfall somehow seemed chillier to him than usual, and he looked up into the gray sky for a moment.

No, nothing could be as cold to him as that unexpected snowfall in New York, so many years ago...