350 Do Not Open Until...
For Sunday, December 15, Day 350 of the 2024 Story-a-Day Challenge
His wife of 47 years had passed away on Christmas day of 2021 from COVID-19. In the ICU at the local hospital she had licked the envelope to seal the present she wanted to leave for him.
And just in time.
By the time he had arrived to visit her that day, the nurses were removing her IVs. She had been pronounced dead just minutes earlier. Bedside, his grieving private, for he was a private man. Still, the nurse could see his sorrow.
"Mr. Sanchez?"
"Yes?"
"Your wife wanted you to have this." She handed him the envelope. Upon it were written his wife's last words:
MERRY CHRISTMAS, LOVE. THIS GIFT IS AS MUCH FOR ME AS IT IS FOR YOU
DO NOT OPEN UNTIL CHRISTMAS 2025
"Did she say anything about this?" he asked.
"No—just that I make sure you got it."
When he had returned after her funeral days later, he saw the envelope he had placed on the mantle above the Christmas stockings. There it remained even after all the decorations had been boxed away into the basement.
He wondered if he'd ever put those decorations back up again.
Life went on for him. After a year he ventured out again, joining some community reading clubs and even subscribing to ballroom dancing lessons. He related well and kindly with women he met, but there was only one for him, and he knew that she was waiting for him. He had almost forgotten about her final gift to him.
Almost.
It was 2025 and as Christmas season began to arise on storefronts and become prominent on TV advertising, he felt the urge to return to the basement.
He wanted to decorate this year, for this was the Christmas he'd finally open her present.
Like his wife before him, he passed away unceremoniously on this Christmas day—of 2025.
When his daughter had flown in to sort things out after hearing the bad news, she happened upon the opened envelop that was, as described, "As much for me as it is for you." She realized her mother's wait was over, and knew how to send him to her.
In the envelope was a pre-paid cremation coupon.
________________
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
For Sunday, December 15, Day 350 of the 2024 Story-a-Day Challenge.
366 WORDS (without A/N)
ONLY 16 DAYS TO GO! THE STORIES KEEP COMING LIKE PRESENTS ON IN THIS 2024 STORY-A-DAY VOCAL CHALLENGE.
There are currently 3 jolly Vocal writers in this 2024 Story-a-Day Challenge:
• L.C. (Keenly anticipating) Schäfer
• Rachel (Patiently waiting) Deeming
• Gerard (Beyond expectations) DiLeo
AMONG THEM 2024 HAS SEEN PUBLISHED OVER A THOUSAND UNIQUE, DAILY MICROFICTIONS. NOT TOO SHABBY.
About the Creator
Gerard DiLeo
Retired, not tired. Hippocampus, behave!
Make me rich! https://www.amazon.com/Gerard-DiLeo/e/B00JE6LL2W/
My substrack at https://substack.com/@drdileo
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More stories from Gerard DiLeo and writers in Fiction and other communities.
Love's Circumstances
Gargoyles were always her favorite and she brought three of hers from home to college. They sat prominently on her desk in her off-campus apartment. This bright March morning, Susan walked across the quad and headed for the student union. Wilmont College was a beautiful place with a beautiful campus. Student union, library, class buildings and administration buildings all built with Gothic architectural influence. She had loved it when she first arrived here for her freshman year and after she had met Dennis, it was paradise. She joked about love at first sight with him, but truly believed that was what happened. “Hey Susan,” Jason yelled at her as he ran to catch up. “Hold your horses. Going to breakfast?” he asked. Susan tried not to let Jason see the tears in her eyes. “I’ll go with you if that’s ok.” Jason was hoping Susan was nearing the capacity to move on with her life and could he continue to be a friend?
By Barbara Gode Wiles2 days ago in Fiction
Comments (21)
Great story. Maybe her spirit startled him and he fell off the basement stairs just when he was going to fetch the letter. And what an accomplishment, 350 short stories! Wow!
A plot and storyline so well done! Top story well wishes! Heavily invested here and BIGGEST congratulations to you daily writing champions!
The twist had me though🫢 Would be pleased to get your insights on my story https://shopping-feedback.today/writers/home-where-solitude-blooms%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E%3C/div%3E%3C/div%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv class="css-w4qknv-Replies">
always a surprise twist!
Your writing style is so engaging!
I found this story so original, surprising and talking of death in a practical sense.
Awesome sir
Started out tragic, but nevertheless a present will be left behind. But gosh, what could this present be… Oh my gosh she left him the…but… at least it happened perfectly. Now they can be together again, I loved the ending. Congratulations on your Top Story. 🎉🎊🎉👏🏽👌🏽🤗
The ending!!!! My goodness this was amazing!
Did she come for him? Great story
Story is so emotional and beautifully written. The ending was unexpected and bittersweet. Amazing work
The twist at the,end was sad but surprising💕
A great twist here....never expected it. Congratulations on a well-deserved Top Story.
This was a great twist. Didn't expect what would be inside the envelope.
Unsettling in the very best way
She had it all planned. Congrats on the TS.
I thought is was poison, weirdly sad. But you told this in such a loving and mysterious way.
What a twist! Sort of loving and sort of creepy. Solid Gerard. Not long to go now!
Whoaaaa, like how did she even know??? Mindblowing!
Sounds like the lady liked to plan ahead.
Wow! What a haunting prediction! Very well done!