Christmas Ghost

Ramona was quite proud of herself. One for the donation drive that brought enough gifts for the children. Two for not tripping while playing with the children although she remained sitting down most of the time. And three, for bringing Miles. One of the boys had opened a dinosaur set, and Miles was playing with him while telling him all about them. It was better than seeing him in the diner all evening, knowing he had spent the morning alone.

"Ramona." She turned at her name, seeing Linda gesture towards the door. Ramona nodded and stood up, trying to maneuver her way through the children, but instead tripping over one. She was about to fall on the other children when strong arms stopped her in midair.

"You alright," asked Miles from above, her savior as usual.

"Yeah," she whispered as he helped her up. Miles escorted her the rest of the way to the door, where Linda was cheekily smiling.

"Can you and Miles distribute these blankets? There are a few kids who weren't able to come and some toddlers up on floor seven that you can visit."

"Sure," she whispered as Miles took the blankets. Ramona wrapped her arm around Miles' for safety before taking some. Ramona led him around the floor to find the children who had missed the festivities. They found a little girl in a bed with her parents entertaining her with a storybook they must have brought.

"Merry Christmas," wished Miles as he pulled off the top blanket, handing it to the parents. As the parents thanked them for the gift, Ramona looked at the little girl, who seemed to be in a similar position she once had been. Her leg was wrapped up in a cast and now she had a new blanket by her mother while her father spoke of breakfast.

Miles led Ramona out, with Ramona looking up to see him smiling.

"You seem happy," she whispered, as Miles gazed at the blankets.

"Well, this has been a good Christmas. One of the best in a long time," he admitted.

"I'm glad," she whispered, burying her face under the blankets so Miles couldn't see her blush. Why was she still feeling this warmth in her cheeks and her heart racing? He hadn't even saved her so it must be his words causing these strange feelings.

They found three other children who couldn't make it to the Christmas party. When they returned, Linda stocked them up with more blankets to deliver to some babies on a higher floor. Ramona hardly knew what to say when they were in the elevator; it felt so quiet. Then the door opened several floors below the children's ward and a doctor entered. She seemed quite surprised that they were in the elevator.

"Miles?" she asked. Ramona looked between the woman and Miles. If the woman's appearance surprised Miles, he was able to school his expression well enough.

"Hello, mother," he greeted the woman, stepping to the side to allow the doctor to enter and stand next to Ramona. The moment the doors had shut, Ramona felt a shiver up her spine. It hadn't been cold moments ago.

Ramona looked between the doctor and Miles. Their hair was a different color but still the same wavy curls. And they had the same eye color although his mother's eyes were hidden behind glasses. She focused on the door ahead, as if staring at it harder would take her immediately to her destination. During the remaining elevator ride, the Sonata mother and son didn't say a single word to each other. Ramona was almost scared that Miles mother was going to start asking about them. So she tried to slip her arm off Miles, only for him to reach his hand over and grab onto hers.

After a couple of stops, the door opened.

"Merry Christmas, Miles," she wished the boy without even looking towards him, then exited the elevator in a rush. As soon as the doors closed, Miles slumped against the back of the elevator, pulling Ramona with him. The elevator resumed an average temperature.

"Your mom's a doctor," she asked, even though after she realized it was a stupid question.

"Yep, spends all her time making the world a healthier place. She wanted me to do the same until I told her I wanted to be a vet. It took a while for her to accept the idea, but the tension is still a bit thick," he explained. He sounded bitter and sad, his once sparkling eyes now downcast as he stared at the blankets. Even his hair seemed to deflate.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know," she whispered, while Miles' gripped her arm a little tighter, but in a way that said he needed her support.

"Don't apologize. I chose to come, knowing I might see my mother. Either way, I'm glad I came with you."

Ramona turned away to hide her blush, but the heat around her cheeks said she was failing miserably.

"Oh, I got you something." Miles reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box wrapped in pretty paper.

"Merry Christmas, Ramona."

Ramona was about to open the box when the elevator doors opened again, now on the 7th floor. Miles led Ramona out, signaling that their conversation was over. Ramona stuffed the gift in her pocket, deciding to make him something in return.

As Miles led her around the floor, Ramona became lost in her little world, puzzling over Miles. Despite his mother being here, with whom he had not had a good relationship, he decided to go with her to the hospital to celebrate Christmas. And he even gave her a present. She looked up at him to find him looking down at her, looking away before they entered the next room.