Christmas mornings had always been a special kind of magic for Carl—a time for warmth, joy, and togetherness. This year, he’d made sure everything was perfect: the sweet aroma of vanilla and cinnamon filled the house, the tree twinkled with lights, and carefully wrapped gifts were tucked beneath its branches, waiting for his daughter Lily’s delighted shrieks of joy.
But as the minutes ticked by, the house stayed eerily silent. No little feet pounding down the stairs, no excited giggles. Concerned, Carl called out for his daughter, but the silence continued. He made his way upstairs to find Lily sitting on the edge of her bed, clutching her stuffed bunny, Buttons. Her face, usually so full of brightness and joy, was now clouded with sadness.
“What’s wrong, sweetheart?” Carl asked softly, kneeling beside her.
Her voice barely rose above a whisper. “Grandpa told me the truth about Mom.”
Carl’s brow furrowed in confusion. “What truth, Lily?”
Tears welled up in her eyes as she mumbled, “He said Mom doesn’t care about me… that she’s always working because she doesn’t want to be with me.” Her voice cracked, the pain in her words cutting deep.
Carl’s heart tightened, and a wave of anger surged beneath his calm exterior. He pulled Lily into his arms, holding her close. “Lily, listen to me,” he said firmly, his voice steady despite the fury rising in him. “What Grandpa said isn’t true. Your mom loves you more than anything in this world. She works hard to help people, but she always puts you first in her heart.”
Lily clung to him, her tiny arms wrapped around his neck as her sniffles muffled against his chest. Carl stroked her hair, whispering soothing words until her breathing steadied, and she drifted into a quiet calm.
Once she was settled, Carl stepped into the hallway, his mind racing. Without hesitation, he grabbed his phone and dialed his father’s number. The line rang only twice before his father’s cheerful voice answered. “Merry Christmas, son!”
Carl’s tone was cold. “Why did you tell Lily that Sarah doesn’t care about her? And why did you tell her Santa isn’t real? You’ve just crushed her on Christmas morning, Dad!”
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