Work Text:
Promises
by Tamy
"I'm not ready to let you go," Sara declares, crouching next to her bed, reaching for me.
Gently, I take her hand, sitting up, I pull her to me in a hug. Softly, I whisper to her "I will be here for as long as I can." She knows I make no promises. I never have. I have only promised to be there for her, for as long as I can, ever since the time she was suspended. I thought we'd lost her then. She started drinking again. With a lot of help, giving her hope, she got cleaned up, she's been sober for a couple years now. Every day is a challenge, and I need to show her she's not alone.
I stand up, slide her robe off. Clad in her nightshirt, she looks so young, so childlike. I pull the covers back on the bed, and lay her under them. Pulling them to her chin, I sit with her until she falls asleep.
I stand carefully, trying not to disturb her. She has so many nightmares, and has no one to take care of her. I bend over and give her a kiss to her temple. She smiles in her sleep, softly I hear her "thanks, poppa. Love you."
I hear the door quietly opening, the soft padding of feet on the carpet. A kiss to the back of my neck, and arms around my waist help to ground me. "Love you, too, little one," I whisper back. I turn into the arms holding me, allowing him to lead me back out into the living room. I sit in the center of the sofa, he sits next to me. A glass comes into view, I look up and take it, "thanks Greg." Greg shrugs, sitting next to me. I feel them waiting. As I sip the ginger ale, four hands massage my back and arms, not very hard, just slowly and softly. Just letting me know they are there.
As I relax, I feel the dam starting to break. With a sob, I turn to the man on my left, one word is all he needs, and he holds me tight... "Nicky"... so much behind that one name. Comfort, strength, non-judgmental. Greg puts his arms around me from behind. He rests his face on my back, small kisses between my shoulders.
As I weep for everything we have lost, nearly lost, and also found, I feel...a promise.
End
Tamy
05-19-06