A Lucky Christmas Romance

Bad luck had a habit of finding Mia every December. The bakery burned her cinnamon rolls. The bus splashed slush up the back of her coat. Last year, the power went out right as she tried to light her only Christmas candle, leaving her apartment cold and dark while laughter drifted in from neighboring windows. Warmth, traditions, gifts—those things seemed to belong to other people, not her. Unexpectedly this year will be different… So different Mia might collapse… “Mia!” She hears her name called. She does have bad luck because after her first step out of her car she face planted right in the snow. Tho she recognizes the voice who called her she looked up to confirm if it really is her high school nemesis. She sighed, voice thin, breath fogging the air “Don’t just stand there. Either help or keep walking.” She said. The man who called her was Ethan Smith. Ethan smirked at her “You collapsed in the middle of the sidewalk. Kind of hard to ignore.” He looks down at her, snow gathering in her dark hair. “How long have you been sitting there?” He asked clearly teasing. Mia answered “I don’t know. Long enough for you to enjoy it, I’m sure.” She spat. “Trust me, this isn’t on my list of holiday entertainment.” He crouches anyway, boots crunching in the snow. Ethan added “You’re pale. Like—hospital pale.” Mia is pissed at his comment but chose to ignore it “I said I’m fine. The ground just… moved. That happens sometimes.” She explains. Still not done with the teasing Ethan said “No. That doesn’t just happen.” He reaches out; she swats his hand away. Mia had enough of it “Don’t touch me.” “Right. Forgot. You’ve always hated that.” “Still hate everything else too, or just me?” Ethan added. Mia just looked a him “Don’t act like we’re joking. We’re not friends.” She tries to stand, knees buckling immediately. “Damn it—“ she said after falling down to the ground again. Ethan grabs her arm despite her protest “Stop. You’re going to faceplant.” “Let go!” She struggles, breath sharp, more angry than weak. “I don’t need you rescuing me. You never did it for the right reasons.” Mia complains. “You think this feels heroic?” Ethans grip tightens, not cruel, just firm. “You’re freezing. I can feel it through your coat.” Mia spat “That’s not your problem anymore.” “It is when you pass out five feet from my bookstore.” Ethan said and looked at the direction of his store just a few steps away. Mia looked at the bookstore and laughs bitterly “Of course you own a bookstore now. Let me guess—small, charming, smells like coffee and disappointment?” Ethans face shows disappointment “Better than whatever city fantasy chewed you up and spat you back here.” He spat. Mia’s eyes flash “You don’t get to say that.” “And you don’t get to pretend you didn’t come back broken.” Ethan said Snow falls heavier. A car passes slowly, tires hissing. No one stops. Mia could not reply she swats Ethan hands once again, knee his balls and walked away. Ethan shouted “I was a jerk! I know that! Sorry!” Mia didn’t remember much of the walk home—only the crunch of snow underfoot, the ache in her legs. Her house was exactly how she’d left it years ago. Same crooked porch railing. Same dim porch light flickering like it might give up at any moment. She fumbled with her keys, then froze. Sitting on the welcome mat was a small box wrapped in red paper, edges sharp and deliberate. No name. No return address. Just a sprig of pine tied with twine. Mia stared at it, unease curling in her stomach. “This town loves its bad jokes.” She picked it up. It was warm—oddly so, considering the cold. The weight felt wrong too, heavier than it should’ve been. Inside, the house creaked as if recognizing her. Mia set the box on the kitchen table, hesitating before lifting the lid. Inside lay a small silver charm shaped like a star, its surface faintly glowing, and a folded note. She unfolded it. For when luck has failed you. Use it wisely. —S. Mia scoffed. “S huh? Why not E?” Mia said thinking the gift came from Ethan. “Santa’s getting bold this year.” She added. She picked up the charm. Heat spread into her palm, steady and alive. For a moment, the dizziness she’d been fighting all evening eased. Her doorbell rang and a small smile cracked on her lips. Once she opened the door she saw Ethan with a box of chocolates and a single red rose. Mia exhaled. “You didn’t have to do this. You already give me a gift.” Ethan’s brow furrowed. “What?” “The gift,” she said, still looking at the charm. “I know you’re trying to… fix things. Or make up for high school. Or whatever this is.” She finally looked at him. His expression had gone flat. Guarded. “That’s not from me.” Mia laughed once, sharp and disbelieving. “Of course it is. No one knows I’m back home. Suddenly there’s a mysterious present. Very subtle.” “I don’t do subtle,” Ethan said. “And I definitely don’t do anonymous.” Silence stretched. The charm pulsed faintly, warm against her skin. Mia just laughed. Mia swallowed. “Then… thank you. Anyway.” “For what?” “For caring enough to pretend,” she said quietly. “Even if you won’t admit it.” Something unreadable passed across his face. “You give me too much credit.” She placed the charm back in the box, hands shaking slightly. “Well. Whoever it’s from… it helped. I feel better.” Ethan just smiled and give her the chocolates and the rose. Which Mia happily took and placed inside. Ethan watched her for a long moment. “If you start feeling weird again, you call someone. Preferably not me.” Ethan teased “Don’t worry,” Mia said. “I wouldn’t dream of it.” He moved toward the door, then paused. “Get some rest, Mia.” “Good night Mr. S” Mia said then reached for the door. When the door closed, the house fell silent. The charm glowed brighter. Her eyes moved to her phone when she heard it ringing. It’s her mother. She picked up the call and almost immediately her mother screamed at her. “Where the heck are you Mia?!” Her mother shouts “ Today is your Engagement Day with the Berns! Are you really going to humiliate me like this?! You’re useless at the company and when we find something you can be of use! You ran away?!” “Mother! I can’t marry someone who I don’t love—“ Her mother cuts her off “ Love?! I loved your father and where did that get us?! Nowhere! If you don’t come back here for the wedding! I will disown you!” Her mother ends the call and that made her feel empty. Mia sat on the kitchen floor long after the tears stopped, back against the cabinet, the house dark except for the snowlight slipping through the window. Her chest felt hollow, scraped clean. Coming back to town hadn’t fixed anything. It had only made the loneliness louder. Her fingers closed around the charm and think of Ethan. It was warm. Warmer than before. Almost burning Mia closed her eyes and put the charm to her lips “I just want it to be better,” she whispered. “I don’t care how. Just… better.” She cried The charm pulsed. The world tilted. Mia gasped as the floor vanished beneath her. Light flared—too bright, too sudden—and then she stumbled forward, catching herself on something solid. Wood. A table. Her breath came fast as she looked around. The kitchen was different. Larger. Brighter. Sunlight poured through wide windows she didn’t recognize. Children’s drawings were taped to the fridge—stick figures labeled Mom and Dad in uneven letters. Mom. Her stomach clenched. “Mia?”