“Daddy, Daddy… look !!!!”

I’m standing behind my two little angels and gaze outside the window. Our garden has been transformed into a winter wonder fairytale. Everything is covered in a thick soft white blanket of snow. One of the girls is pulling on my arm. “Can we go outside? Please, daddy, can we?”

“You haven’t even had breakfast yet girls”

“I’m not hungry”

“Me neither. Can we play in the snow, just for a little while?

I turn to look at them both and help them to get dressed. “You can’t go out playing in the snow without at least 2 thick sweaters… and a scarf…. and a warm hat.. and mittens…” I help them to zip up their coats and put their boots on, then watch them run out the door. I follow behind them and see how their breaths become little clouds as they run around trying to get the dog the pull the sledge. I can’t help smiling and laughing all morning. We win the snow ball fight with the neighbors kids and build a large snowman. When the girls lay down to make snow angels I see you standing in the doorway. You look so beautiful, your hair is tied back in a lose braid. You try to sound a little angry when you tell me off for letting the girls play before they had anything to eat, but your bright blue eyes sparkle with joy and love. And when I come near I can see you set the table with the girls favorite foods. You let me kiss you and pull you into my arms. We dance and kiss while the snow falls down around us. Then you pull away and tell the girls to go inside and take off their wet cloths. “That goes for you as well sweetie. Your jeans are soaked, you must be freezing. Go help the girls and tell them to put on they yammies so we can have breakfast”

When I look around our bedroom, something is different… You lay beside me, fast asleep. I search the house but no trace off the girls, I can’t find they rooms. The garden is not there either, no white winter wonder land. Our family home has turned into the tiny apartment we live in….Was it only a dream?

You sit up and look at me. “What’s wrong sweetie? You look cold” You touch me, hug me. “Baby even your lips are blue and your hands are freezing”