A Happy New Year to all my readers
As you continue to journey with me into the worlds of
romance, adventure, mystery, and myths for
incredible, exciting stories

DYLAN slowly turned the pages of his sketchbook and smiled at the childish drawings.

The pages were a priceless collection of a child’s sentiments.

He closed the book and walked over to the window; he looked across the green lawn and walkway to the gate. It was raining just the way it did on the day of the funeral service. The pain he had felt that day had stayed with him over the years.

Now a young man, he could think with better understanding, more than the little boy who had sketched the loss and the yearning in his heart on each page. It had been hard for him to let go because he had been too young to understand why his mom and dad were not coming back home. How many days had he not looked through the window from his room in the beautiful, white Colonial-style house to see the two people most dear to him walk up the pathway? Duke, their golden retriever, would be the first to welcome them but now he sat sad and forlorn.

It had been the Christmas holiday weekend and they were coming home from a resort off the highway when tragedy struck. Dylan had been riding with his cousins in the car behind when a Toyota Cruiser coming at a dangerous speed slammed into his father’s car. It was a dark day, too hard to forget, even for a seven-year-old child.

Many days after, he had stood at the gate with Duke watching the shifting clouds, wondering how far heaven was and if they could see him and Duke. The years slowly passed by. His was a young life to live, to bloom; a world of opportunities to explore. But nothing truly pleased his heart and he cared not for what the world had to offer even though there was enough love and care from the families of both parents. He could have followed great ambitions to be a scientist to help save the world or a doctor to save lives, but he chose instead to flirt with danger and became a motorbike racer.

He wanted to be brave and daring, and even though he became a champion, it drove deep fear into the hearts of his grandparents. The skills and the victories meant nothing to him because he felt fate had robbed him of the most beautiful thing in his life.

But no one can change the script of life written by fate and that he learned.

It was again, a Christmas holiday weekend, the last night, a quiet night, when he had pushed the bike, riding blindly, challenging the entities of danger and tragedy. He had felt the crash and the pain before darkness started to cloud his consciousness.

And in the next few seconds, something happened that changed his life.

He saw them standing beside him at the crash site, his mother and father, now God’s angels, and the last thought on his mind was that they were there to take him with them. But his mother held his hand as paramedics arrived and spoke to him softly, “Don’t wreck your life, son. There’s so much to live for. We have been watching over you, so the best of you can shine forth.”

“We love you so much, son,” his father said, “A wonderful future awaits you and a family legacy to carry on. Also, Duke needs you; don’t leave him to grieve.”

They had kissed him. Their cute little boy had now grown into such a strong, handsome young man, and the weak beats of his heart grew stronger. The thought of knowing they had been in his life, watching over him rebuilt his shattered mind and lifted the burden of pain from his heart. He had opened his eyes and smiled a little, knowing now there was something of great worth in his life to live for.

For every moment, there is a new beginning and a new year dawned for him with hopes and warm aspirations. The life he now understood comes with twists and turns and though there would be challenges along the way, the most beautiful thing would be the memories he cherished and the moments he lived.

Through the months of recovery from his injuries, he brought smiles and happiness to his grandparents, and no more tears and worries. Now he understood the miracles on the race tracks and roads, and the heartwarming feelings on his birthdays. He registered at university and began studies in medicine, wanting now to dedicate his life to saving lives and to stop flirting with danger.

Dylan returned the sketchbook to the bookshelf and inhaled deeply with satisfaction. Today, he stood tall and proud, a graduate who embarked on a new phase in his life as a doctor. He looked up at the heavens and said, “Thank you so much. Stay with me a little longer if you can for I still need you.”

A small gust of wind ruffled his hair, Duke barked happily and Dylan smiled, a happy feeling in his heart too, knowing he had two guardian angels.