On Christmas Eve, a little boy named Eli placed an extra plate on their table.
“Who is that for?” his sister asked.
Eli shrugged. “Just in case.”
That night, there was a knock on the door. Outside stood an old man, soaked from the rain and smiling shyly. Eli’s mother welcomed him in, shared their food, and listened to his stories.
Before leaving, the old man pressed a small wooden star into Eli’s hand. “Thank you for remembering,” he said.
The next morning, the star still lay in Eli’s palm—warm, as if it had been holding light all night. ⭐🎄
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