Written By Aisha Mehta
In the snowy, cobbled streets of Auroria, a small, magical town nestled far in the North, was a towering Christmas tree stood at its heart. Atop this tree sparkled the Elysian Star, a creation that drew light from the stars above to power Santa’s factory. It was no ordinary star, but one crafted by Santa himself, as an intricate network of meticulously placed wires.
For as long as I could remember, Santa Claus had been a symbol of cheer and warmth, spreading joy and sparkling a dash of hope to every corner of the world. But behind the jolly person he seemed to be, cracks were forming in his world. Santa’s son, Alden, had spent years watching his father pour all his energy into making other children happy, while he felt invisible. Every time his father missed a dinner or broke a promise, the gap between them widened. Santa’s love for the world was boundless, yet Alden felt as though none of it was meant for him.
This year, as the factory buzzed with more energy than ever, Alden felt his loneliness deepen. Everywhere he turned, he saw elves hard at work, machines humming, and his father consumed by ceaseless schedules and preparations. Late one night, driven by anger and sadness, Alden climbed the great Christmas tree and severed the wires of the Elysian Star.
The factory immediately stopped, its bustling machines grinding came to a halt. As the star dimmed, the town was shrouded in an uneasy stillness. Panic rushed through the elves, as they searched frantically for the cause of the shutdown. The elves were growing more worried and Santa was frustrated. Hours passed without answers, until Santa heard a soft, muffled sound near the base of the tree. Following the sound, he found Alden sitting in the snow, the severed wires tangled in his lap.
Santa took a deep breath of realisation and sat beside him, pushing himself closer and closer to Alden. He asked his son if something was bothering him, but the silence between them spoke volumes. He saw not just his son but the years of neglect, the missed moments, and the widening distance he had failed to notice.
Sitting down beside Alden, Santa quietly looked at the wires in his son’s hands, then at the sadness in his eyes. The enormity of his role as Santa, the joy he worked so hard to give the world, had blinded him to what mattered most. In regret, with a new understanding, he wrapped his arms around the person whom he loved most, and embraced him tightly. A single tear slid down Santa’s cheek, falling between the severed wires in Alden’s lap. The tear shimmered as it touched the metal, a faint spark igniting. Slowly, the wires began to glow, fusing back together. All it took was a tear of love from the creator of the star to save Christmas. Santa tenderly intertwined his fingers into his son’s and climbed the ladder up the tree to place the star on top. The factory lit up and the machines worked at an even more unprecedented pace.
Featured Image Courtesy – Medium
