THIS CHRISTMAS I FELL

ITS JUST 4-DAYS

By the time Julia got home, dinner was already served. The aroma of roasted chicken and steaming vegetables filled the dining room, but she barely registered it. She walked straight to the table, piled her plate, and began eating quietly, deliberately ignoring the expectant stares of her family.

“Miss Julia, I’m sure you have an explanation for why you’re only just coming home now,” her father said, his eyes narrowing as he studied her.

“Went to see a friend,” she mumbled between bites, stuffing chicken into her mouth with mechanical precision.

“How does it feel to eat food you didn’t even contribute a dollar to buy?” her mother asked, her disgust obvious, each word dripping with accusation.

Julia swallowed, gulped down a glass of water, and met her mother’s gaze. “It’s… great. I feel happy and satisfied. The food is amazing. I hope one day I can match your cooking skills,” she said, keeping her tone light, almost teasing, while continuing to eat.

Her mother’s expression hardened. “If you keep eating like this, you’ll have to start contributing to this household in every way. I put a roof over your head, make sure you sleep warm with the heater on, and wake up to everything you need—but what do you give? Nothing! You just go out, laugh with your friends, and come back struggling over drumsticks with your little ones!” Her voice rose, echoing through the dining room.

Julia paused, fork halfway to her mouth, as her mother’s words hit with sharp precision.

“Is that why you lied to Mrs. Ivy and the other ladies?” her mother snapped. “Because you were too ashamed to tell them I quit nursing school to pursue my own dream? That isn’t a dream, Julia.”

Julia stood, letting her chair scrape loudly against the floor. “Then tell me what is? was getting married to Dad part of your wonderful dream?” she shot at her father, ignoring his startled look. “Was giving birth to children your dream? Because the way you treat us, it’s as if we never existed—like we were never part of your life at all!”

Her voice cracked, then steadied as she recalled a memory. “I went through the old stuff in the attic… and I found something amusing. I saw pictures of you in your nursing uniform—you looked so happy. I’ve never seen you smile like that before. But then I found the next photo… of you pregnant. Probably with me. And it finally clicked. You stopped everything because of the pregnancy.”

“Julia, you’re going too far,” her father cautioned, his voice tight with worry.

But Julia couldn’t stop. “Everything makes sense now. You want me to live the life you couldn’t. You want me to chase the dream you gave up because of love. That’s why you push me so hard, every single time!”

Her mother’s face crumpled as sobs broke through. “Enough! You don’t know anything! You don’t know what I’ve sacrificed for you or your siblings. You have no right to judge me, Julia!”

Julia’s hands trembled, anger and pain coiling inside her like fire. “Your dream is dead. I hope you kill every desire of me chasing it. And don’t worry—I promise not to end up like you.”

Her father’s scream cut through the room. “Julia!”

But she didn’t stop. She stormed upstairs, slamming her door with a force that shook the walls, leaving the echoes of her defiance lingering long after she disappeared.

“Oh my gosh…” Mary’s voice broke as she sank onto the couch, tears streaming down her face.

“It’s okay, honey,” Briggs said gently, sitting beside her and patting her back. “It’s just a teenage phase. It’ll pass.”

Mary shook her head, sniffling. “I only thought I was doing what was best for her… but she just keeps pushing and pushing.”

“Shhh,” Briggs whispered, pressing a hand to her shoulder. “Don’t talk. Julia is struggling. Give her time. She’ll come around… she’ll be better with time. I promise I’ll handle her in a way that will make her feel sorry for what she’s done.”

Julia, who had been quietly eavesdropping from the hallway, scoffed under her breath. Deal with me? Better with time?

Her chest tightened. “This hellhole is already dealing with me,” she muttered to herself, her voice low and firm. “As long as I’m under his roof, there’s no healing for me.”

Without another word, she turned on her heel and strode to her room. Once inside, she collapsed onto her bed and stared at the calendar pinned above her desk. Just four more days, she reminded herself. If I could survive twenty-five years of constant nagging and torture in this house, four days is nothing.

A sudden chill from the window made her shiver. She hurriedly slammed it shut, the cold air replaced by the warm, muffled silence of her room.

“This Christmas is going to be… eventful,” she whispered, letting exhaustion drag her into sleep.

***

“Daddy, what are the plans for Christmas?” asked Anna, a bright-eyed girl no older than ten, with vibrant orange curls and freckles dancing across her nose. " it's barely 2 weeks to Christmas but look around" She pointed to the living room, noticeably bare, devoid of any Christmas decorations.

"Cathy’s family had already bought their tree, wrapped gifts, and strung up lights that made their home glow with holiday magic but our house looks like we’re" "celebrating Halloween Eve,” Eve her little sister said with a dramatic sigh, carrying a bowl of cereal into the room.

Her little sister, eight-year-old Eve, nodded in agreement, her curls bouncing as she spoke. “Yeah, nothing here screams Christmas.”

Alex, trying to act like the responsible adult, leaned forward like a student taking notes. “So… what do you suggest we do, ladies?”

The girls exchanged a mischievous glance before erupting in gleeful squeals. “Christmas decoration time!” they shouted, hopping up and down with excitement.

Anna held out a long list of decorations, her little eyes sparkling. “Don’t worry, we already made a list for you. We want everything from the Christmas market in Trenton, which opens in four days. That’s where Cathy’s family got their decorations, and we want ours from there too!”

Alex raised a brow. “But isn’t that far? Can’t we just get some from local shops?”

“Nope,” Anna replied firmly, her tone leaving no room for negotiation. “We want it from there. That’s the rule.”

Satisfied, Alex leaned back and pressed play on the TV. “Okay, ma’am. Can we at least watch the movie now?”

The room filled with laughter, the girls’ excitement infectious, as the holiday spirit slowly began to bloom—even in a house that had started the season undecorated and bare.