Sophie fought to keep her balance as she carefully maneuvered the Christmas tree down the narrow attic stairs. The weight of it felt heavier than usual, as if the tree itself could feel the emptiness left in the house.
Her muscles ached from the effort, and every step seemed to echo with the loss of something much bigger than just the holiday season.
This would be their first Christmas without Frank, and Sophie couldn’t shake the quietness that had settled over the house. Frank’s laugh had once filled the rooms, and the comforting smell of his cinnamon-scented coffee would greet her every morning. Now, all that remained was the painful silence, broken only by the sound of her own breathing.
Setting the tree down in the living room, Sophie wiped her forehead, trying to shake off the heaviness in her heart. Matthew, her seven-year-old son, deserved the magic of Christmas, even if she wasn’t feeling it herself.
The spark in his eyes every December had always been contagious. Frank would have wanted her to keep that joy alive for him.
The past few months had been difficult, especially with her mother-in-law, Rachel, trying to take Matthew away. After weeks of tense arguments and sleepless nights, Sophie had managed to convince Rachel to back off, but the emotional scars lingered.
Sophie opened a dusty box filled with decorations, her fingers brushing against old ornaments that once brought comfort. Her breath caught when she pulled out the Elf on the Shelf, its cheeky grin staring back at her.
Memories of Frank flooded her mind—how they used to set it up with tiny marshmallows in the kitchen or balance it precariously on the bookshelf. Matthew’s delighted laughter, believing the elf was up to no good, seemed to echo from the past.
A bittersweet smile tugged at Sophie’s lips before the buzz of her phone interrupted her thoughts. She glanced at the screen and saw a message from her mother.
@Mom:
“How are you two holding up?”
@Sophie:
“It’s a bit hard to manage everything on my own, but overall, we’re okay.”
Before Sophie could respond further, the doorbell rang, and her stomach sank. She wasn’t expecting anyone, especially not Rachel. She opened the door to find Rachel standing there, suitcase in hand.
“What… what are you doing here?” Sophie asked, her voice sharp with surprise.
“I thought I’d keep you company for Christmas,” Rachel said, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation. “It seemed like you could use the help.”
Sophie crossed her arms defensively. “We don’t need company. We’re fine on our own.”
Rachel set her suitcase down by the door and glanced around. “Are you really? After Frank passed, you’ve looked awful. I can’t imagine Matthew spending Christmas in such a sad house.”
Sophie clenched her fists, a wave of anger rising in her chest. “You don’t get to say that. Matthew and I are fine. I’m doing my best.”
Rachel looked her over, a faint smile on her lips. “I’m not here to judge. I just thought you’d want some support.”
Rachel wandered into the living room, admiring the decorations. “It’s lovely in here. You’ve done a nice job. I wasn’t sure you’d even put a tree up.”
“I did it for Matthew,” Sophie muttered under her breath.
Rachel’s eyes landed on the Elf on the Shelf, and she picked it up, holding it in her hands like a relic. “This elf is so charming. I’ve always liked it. He watches everything, doesn’t he?”
Sophie’s stomach twisted with unease. Rachel’s words seemed to hang in the air, but Sophie forced herself to focus on the holiday preparations, trying not to overthink it.
The next day, as Matthew bounded through the door after school, his face lighting up at the sight of the decorations, Sophie felt a brief moment of relief. But it didn’t last long. Rachel was already stepping in, correcting how Matthew hung his coat and giving him instructions on how to wash his hands properly.
“Your mom lets you do it this way? No wonder it’s a mess,” Rachel said with a sigh.
Sophie clenched her jaw, biting back a response. She watched as Rachel continued to hover, offering unsolicited advice on everything from homework to snack choices. Sophie silently repeated to herself, “Just a few more days.”
The following morning, Sophie groggily got out of bed when she heard a knock on the door. When she opened it, she was surprised to see her mother, Liz, standing there with a small bag in hand.
“Mom? What are you doing here?” Sophie asked, rubbing her tired eyes.
“I decided to come keep you company,” Liz said, stepping inside. “It seemed like you could use someone to help.”
Sophie sighed, glancing over her shoulder. “You’re not the only one.”
Liz raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
“Rachel showed up yesterday,” Sophie explained, her voice flat.
Liz frowned. “Rachel? Well, it’s a good thing I came. You’ll need someone on your side.”
The next two days felt like an endless cycle of tension. Rachel hovered, criticizing Sophie’s every move. “Matthew needs more structure. When Frank was alive, things were different,” Rachel would say, her tone sharp.
Meanwhile, Liz sat in the corner, shaking her head. “Oh, honey, it must be so hard doing this all on your own,” she would say, her voice filled with pity.
Sophie felt trapped, like she was drowning in their constant judgment and unsolicited advice. One evening, desperate for a moment of peace, she began tidying the living room. Her eyes landed on the Elf on the Shelf, sitting innocently on the mantel. But something about its eyes felt… off. They looked almost unnatural.
Sophie picked it up, her fingers trembling as she turned it over. Her stomach twisted as she noticed a small slit on its back. With shaking hands, she pried it open, revealing a hidden flash drive. Heart racing, she rushed to her room, locked the door, and plugged the drive into her computer.
The screen flickered to life, and Sophie’s blood ran cold. There were clips of her—crying, struggling, and dealing with the mess of her life. Even Rachel and Liz were captured on footage. Someone had been watching them. Someone had been recording her every moment.
A surge of fear and anger flooded Sophie’s chest. There was only one person who could have wanted this—Rachel.
Sophie stormed into Rachel’s room, gripping the flash drive tightly in her hand, her face red with fury. “What is this?” she demanded.
Rachel looked up, her face blank with feigned innocence. “I don’t know. What are you talking about?”
Sophie’s anger flared. “I found a hidden camera inside the elf. Don’t act like you don’t know anything about it.”
Rachel’s eyebrows lifted, her voice laced with false concern. “A hidden camera? That’s horrible. We should call the police.”
Sophie’s glare hardened. “Stop pretending! I know it was you. You’ve been trying to prove I’m a bad mother so you can take Matthew away!”
Rachel’s calm facade cracked. “That’s not true! I haven’t done anything like that. Yes, I’ve thought about Matthew living with me, but I decided against it because I knew it would hurt him. He belongs here with you.”
Sophie’s fury boiled over. “Don’t act innocent. I don’t believe you. I want you out of my house. Now.”
Rachel crossed her arms, defiant. “I’m not going anywhere. I came here to see my grandson. If you want me gone, go ahead and call the police.”
Sophie spun around, her chest heaving with frustration. She slammed the door as she left. The weight of it all—the invasion of her privacy, the judgment, the control—felt unbearable. She collapsed on her bed, her face buried in her hands, tears spilling down her cheeks.
The sound of her mother’s voice broke through her sorrow. “Sweetheart, what’s wrong?” Liz asked softly.
Sophie looked up, her face streaked with tears. “It’s Rachel,” she said with a shaky breath. “She’s trying to set me up.”
Liz’s eyes narrowed with understanding. “I knew that witch couldn’t be trusted. But tell me what happened.”
Sophie paused, noticing a receipt that had slipped out of Liz’s bag. Her stomach dropped as she read the words on the paper. It was for a surveillance camera. Her hands shook as she held it up. “What is this?!” she yelled.
Liz reached for the receipt, her face pale. “Sweetheart, let me explain.”
Sophie jerked it away, her voice rising. “So it was you? You put a camera in the elf? Why would you do that?!”
Liz sighed, her voice defensive. “Because you’re not managing, Sophie! You’re still grieving Frank. You don’t visit me. I barely get to see Matthew anymore. I thought he’d be better off with me, but I needed proof.”
Sophie’s anger flared. “Better off? Did you even ask me how I feel? We’re fine! I’m doing my best to give Matthew the life he deserves!”
Liz shook her head. “I just wanted to help. When you’re stronger, we can talk about him coming back to you.”
Sophie stared at her mother, stunned. “Do you even hear yourself?”
Liz threw up her hands in exasperation. “You told me you were struggling. That’s why I came. That’s why I did this. You needed help!”
Sophie’s voice grew cold. “I needed support from my mom, not for her to take my child away.”
“It’s for the best,” Liz said, her tone firm.
Sophie stood, her eyes blazing with fury. “Get out.”
Liz froze. “What?”
“Get out of my house!” Sophie shouted, her voice breaking.
Liz packed quickly, her movements stiff and hurried. She didn’t look back as she left. Sophie watched her mother climb into a taxi, her heart heavy with loss.
As the door clicked shut, Matthew stepped into the room, his face puzzled. “Where is Grandma Liz going?”
Sophie knelt down and hugged him tightly. “She had to leave.”
Matthew wrapped his arms around her. “Good. She wanted me to go with her, but I want to stay with you.”
Sophie held him close, her tears soaking his hair. “No one’s ever taking you away, kiddo. I promise.”
From the corner of her eye, she saw Rachel walk into the kitchen. Their eyes met, and Sophie mouthed, “I’m sorry.” Rachel gave a small nod, her expression unreadable.
Sophie held Matthew even tighter, her resolve hardening. This was their life, and she would protect it at all costs.
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