This was, without question, the worst Christmas Eve of Madelyn’s life. Two years ago, she had packed her dreams into a suitcase and moved to Paris with her boyfriend, Austin. She had imagined a future filled with romance, candlelit dinners by the Seine, and a love story that would last forever. But tonight, that illusion shattered. When she returned home from work, exhausted but carrying a small gift bag for him, she opened the bedroom door only to find Austin tangled in the sheets—with another woman. Her heart felt as though it had been ripped from her chest. She didn’t scream, she didn’t fight; she simply walked away, her hands trembling, the sound of laughter and betrayal echoing in her ears. By the time she reached the square, the magic of Paris seemed cruel. The Eiffel Tower glittered against the winter sky, casting a golden glow over the couples strolling hand in hand. Their laughter floated in the cold December air, a painful reminder of everything she had just lost. Madelyn sat down on a frozen bench, pulling her coat tighter around her shoulders. Her blonde hair clung to her tear-streaked face, and her chest rose and fell in uneven breaths. She felt small, invisible, and utterly alone among the sea of strangers celebrating the holiday. The scent of roasted chestnuts from a nearby vendor made her stomach twist—she hadn’t eaten all day, but her grief left no room for hunger. She stared blankly at the twinkling lights wrapped around the trees, her vision blurred by tears. The gift bag she had bought for Austin still hung from her fingers, useless and heavy with memories of a love that no longer existed. For the first time since arriving in Paris, the city of love felt like the loneliest place on earth. So consumed by her sorrow, Madelyn didn’t notice the shadow that drew closer, the sound of careful footsteps crunching in the snow behind her. A tall figure stopped just a few feet away, his presence quiet but undeniable. And then, in a voice warm enough to cut through the winter air, he spoke: "Did Santa forget to leave your present under the tree?"