Silent Night Candle

She wandered through the snowy forest of firs, her breath hanging in the still, frosty air. All around her, families hurried by, laughing as they hauled their perfect trees, but her gaze fell on the one left behind — a tree that stood a little crooked, its branches sparse in places, overlooked by everyone else. She smiled softly, recognising something beautiful that others had missed.

As she dragged the tree through the snow, the crisp scent of pine mingled with the cool breeze, and the fresh notes of eucalyptus clung to the air, sharp and invigorating. The night was hushed, the only sound her boots crunching over the frozen ground, and softly, almost as if carried on the wind, the familiar melody of Silent Night began to play from a nearby home, filling the stillness with its gentle, timeless lullaby. 

Inside her small, cosy home, the soft, rich notes of sandalwood and cedarwood greeted her as she stepped through the door, filling the space with the warmth of a hearth long burning. She carefully decorated the tree, each ornament a keepsake from winters past — a delicate glass bauble from her grandmother, a wooden angel from her childhood. 

She paused, then switched on the lights. Their golden glow flickering to life, illuminating the room with a soft warmth. She stood back, watching the tree transform from crooked and bare to something radiant and full of life. From the record player, Silent Night began to play again, its notes rising gently in the glow of the tree, a perfect harmony of light, scent, and the quiet beauty of Christmas Eve.