A Forest Green Christmas

Lena Anderson lived along the Hudson River, not too far outside Westchester County. Late Autumn was her favorite time of year when the ambient yellows and oranges turned to deep citrus. It was the transition from holiday to holiday. The city was hustling and flamboyant, which is partly why she left for quieter countryside. Snow had already fallen at least twice this week and another storm wasn’t too far off.

A knock on the door awoke Lena from her sleep. She opened her eyes to her wrinkled white comforter and her chocolate lab Milo perched on the edge of the bed. Stepping off her bed onto her forest green rug, she made her way to the front door where she spotted Dave the mailman.

“How are you this morning Lena?” Dave said cheerfully. Lena had always admired how Dave could always stay positive on the most frigid and dull of days. However, today certainly wasn’t dull or frigid. Lena looked out past Dave standing in her doorway to the trees which danced with fresh powder. Looking further she noticed that it had snowed at least a foot and had probably given way sometime before dawn. “Not too bad for Christmas Eve, huh?” Lena hadn’t even realized what time it was, let alone the day.

“Wow, I can’t even believe it’s December yet. How is it already Christmas?”

“Time really does fly this time of year” Dave replied with a sparkling smile. Dave held out his hands, giving a letter to Lena. They said goodbye and she shut the door. Lena placed the letter down on the counter top to her kitchen and ran over to the thermostat. It read 29 degrees outside so Lena set the temperature to 72 degrees. While Lena made breakfast she clicked on the Tv to National Geographic. Normally, she watches nature documentaries but a report about Astronomy caught her eye. The report mentioned that tonight she would be able to see Venus in a relatively perfect view. 

Lena sat down on the couch with her breakfast and the letter and ripped it open. Surprisingly it was from her mother.

Dear Lena,

Hello darling I know we haven’t spoken in quite a while. I really miss you. I remember hearing that you moved out of the city and asked for your address from one of your friends, who reluctantly agreed to hand it over. I know I probably won’t hear back from you but I thought I may try to right a wrong. I can never fully take back all the terrible words or the years of passive aggressive remarks. The lab has felt empty without you. You used to be my little astronomy buddy, remember? Anyways, I wanted to invite you to my new place in Hoboken for Christmas, the address is 185 Brookstone Place.

Hope to see you soon,

• Mom

Lena had never expected to speak to her Mother again. After her father’s passing, there simply was no reason to. She considered going but she had no one to take care of Milo while she was away. She would’ve taken Milo with her but her mother hated dogs. However, she was reminded of her telescope under her bed. Lena had worked at her mother’s lab with her. She was just an assistant to her mom, but she had loved spending time with her. Although they fought consistently, she still cared for her mom. She found the telescope under her bed, where she thought it would be. She decided she would set her telescope up to try and see Venus.

She brought Milo with her for a walk and to just enjoy the snow before it turned gray from all the salt. Her and Milo walked out the side door that sat at the end of her galley kitchen. They walked down a trail near the house which made its way to a clearing close to the Hudson. She had to take her gloves off to set up the telescope so she set them down on an adirondack chair near a mini fire pit she had made during the summer. The gloves were knit from dark green yarn, her mother had made them for her when she was in highschool. They were a bit snug but she kept them anyway.

After setting up the telescope, Lena and Milo had made their way back up the trail. She couldn’t stop thinking about what her mother had written. Had she really changed? The letter, although short, seemed sincere. Lena looked at her phone; the time was 1:28. Lena had no plan to go see her mother but she figured the letter at least deserved a call.

The phone rang… Then again… then finally an answer.

“Hello Mom?” Lena said with an apprehensive tone. No response but there was someone on the other line. Lena waited a few seconds and still no response. “Mom, are you there?” she said once more. Then she heard a voice, it was not her mother’s. It was unfamiliar. In a stoic voice a woman replied. “Hello!? Is this Lena Anderson?” Lena sat back on her couch while glancing at the letter. It had been at least 5 seconds before the voice once again said “Hello? Is this Lena?” Lena finally responded “Yes this is Lena, where is my Mom?” As she asked she felt a chill in her bones. She began running her finger along the edge of the ripped letter. The voice sighed and explained to Lena that her mother had been in a car accident earlier this morning on the way to the lab. The lab had been trying to contact her all morning but she had left her phone at home while she went out. Lena had seen the missed calls on her phone but didn’t recognize the number so she hadn’t called back. Once the nurse was done explaining she told Lena that since her father had passed she was next of kin and needed to come to Mt. Sinai hospital immediately.

After hanging up the phone Lena sat in disbelief looking back at the muted TV still playing National Geographic. Lena stood up and took a deep breath. She knew that she had to go, so she went to the pantry, filled up Milos' bowl with water and food, grabbed the keys and headed to the Hospital. 

10, 15, 25, 45, 65, 85, Lena pounded her foot on the gas. She couldn’t lose another parent. Not like this. Her Mom wouldn’t get to send a letter and die before she could respond. Lena was pissed to say the least. Not at her Mom. Not at the other driver. In the universe. The drive was usually an hour forty five, but Lena had almost arrived in under an hour. Lena was about a mile out from the Henry Hudson Bridge. The ice had mostly cleared but Lena was going to fast. The car screeched so loud you could hear it in Queens. Lena opened her eyes after impact and was looking back at her car from the road. 

Lena layed unmoving on the pavement for what felt like hours but to be truthful she had no idea of the time. The sun was still up so it couldn’t have been too long. The other car had slammed into the guardrail but the driver's side seemed relatively unharmed. Lena felt her heartbeat in her forehead, each beat made the forehead heavier and heavier. The force was too much for her eyes to stay open. 

The next thing she knew Lena was in an ambulance with the other driver following not too far behind. 

The hospital room was 3rd floor room 319. With the drapes drawn the room was quite dark. Her room was quiet so she assumed she had no “roommate”. However, when she drew back the curtain she was surprised to see her mother less than ten feet away. “MOM?” she said in utter disbelief. No answer. Her mother was unresponsive to any attempt to wake her.

Was all that in vain? Would she get a chance to say goodbye? Lena needed to talk to her mother but she could barely move. Her right arm was broken. The crash had caused internal bleeding. She wouldn’t be able to get up for a while. The hospital was dark and dreary, the walls had yellowed with time and the fluorescent lighting only added to the effect. The consistent mechanical beeping kept Lena up most of the night. She wished for Milo and her comfortable bed. She missed the soft powdered snow and the forest green trees. What was going to happen to Milo!? She wondered who would watch him.

It had to be at least 1 o’clock in the morning by now. Lena needed to talk to her mom. Even if it was for one last time. With all her power Lena managed to sit up in the bed. Slowly she plucked the wires off and managed to get footing on the ground. With every ounce of energy she had left in her she limped over to the chair at her mother’s bedside. With one last step she made it to the chair. In the process she ripped the wire monitoring her heartbeat which instantly set off the nurse alarm. With seconds left Lena stood up shaking her mom by the shoulders. Screaming in desperation to just speak once more. Lena had over exerted herself and just as the nurses walked in, Lena’s vision went blurring and she fell to the cold tiled floor.

A few days later Lena had gained consciousness. The fall had really wiped her energy and caused more internal bleeding. She sat up to see that her room had been changed. The cold fluorescent lights and yellowed walls had changed to a single room with white walls and dark gray tiles. The room had a bouquet of flowers sitting on a table at the opposite side of the room from Lena. She wasn’t able to make out where she was. That was when she noticed that the window did not show a view of Manhattan but of a grass field. Lena leaned over to grab her chart probably left by the nurse. Lena had been transferred to a hospital in New Jersey.

A nurse had come in and gave Lena her phone. When the phone powered on the date was Wednesday, December 28. She had missed christmas. She noticed a text from a friend who told her Milo was safe at her place and to get better soon. Lena was confused as to who had told Anna what happened. Then in her Chanel jacket and bodycon skirt walked her mother.

“Mom!!” Lena said, stunned. The last time she had seen her mother she was closer to a vegetable than a well dressed business woman. “Hello darling, Are you ready to go home?” her mother said in a posh but comforting tone that Lena had remembered. Lena’s mother had ordered her a car and then got discharged. The drive was unfamiliar to her and she was confused about where they were going. Lena then looked to the right to see a sign reading “Brookstone” and then it was clear where they were. The driver pulled up to her house. A worn brick row house with an oak tree on the curb with a small yet sturdy black fence surrounding it. Lena and her mother made their way up the steps and opened the door. Once opened Lena was amazed by the wonderland inside. Lena saw garland hanging from the ten foot ceiling and a dark green christmas tree in the bay window meticulously decorated with silver ornaments. Most of all, she was happy to see Milo in his dog bed with a Christmas Tree chew toy. Her mother really had changed, once a grinch, her mother had turned into a jolly green wonderland.