Sophie was already tired, the weight of her emotions pressing down on her as she carefully carried the Christmas tree down the attic stairs. Each step made her body ache, but more than that, each step reminded her of how much had changed.
It was their first Christmas without Frank. The house that once smelled of his cinnamon coffee and echoed with his hearty laugh now felt empty, too quiet.
When Sophie finally set the tree down in the living room, she wiped the sweat from her forehead and exhaled a tired sigh. It was hard to feel festive, but she had to do this for her son, Matthew. This was his first Christmas without his dad, and he deserved to feel the magic, even if Sophie wasn’t sure she could.
Matthew’s excitement every December had always been contagious. Frank had always been the one to bring the sparkle to the holidays, setting up the Elf on the Shelf, hiding it in funny places around the house.
Sophie could almost hear Matthew’s giggles as he tried to figure out where it was each morning. She had to keep that alive for him.
As she pulled open a dusty box of ornaments, Sophie’s hand brushed against the small figure of the Elf on the Shelf. Its cheeky grin was still as mischievous as ever, and it made Sophie pause. It brought back so many memories of Frank—those early mornings when they’d all wake up to find the elf in new spots. Sophie smiled softly, but then her phone buzzed, snapping her back to reality.
It was a message from her mom.
@Mom: How are you two holding up?
Sophie read the message and replied quickly.
@Sophie: It’s a bit hard to manage everything on my own, but overall, we’re okay.
Just as she put the phone down, the doorbell rang, its sudden sound making her heart race. She wasn’t expecting anyone. When she opened the door, her stomach sank. Standing on the doorstep was none other than Rachel—Frank’s mother—holding a suitcase.
“What… what are you doing here?” Sophie asked, her voice cold, surprised.
“I thought I’d keep you company for Christmas,” Rachel replied, stepping into the house without waiting for an invitation. “You seem like you could use the help.”
Sophie’s arms crossed over her chest, a knot of frustration tightening in her stomach. “We’re doing fine on our own.”
Rachel didn’t seem to care about Sophie’s obvious discomfort. She just set her suitcase by the door and glanced around. “After Frank passed, you’ve looked awful. I can’t imagine Matthew spending Christmas in such a sad house.”
Sophie’s fists clenched at her sides. “You don’t get to say that. Matthew and I are fine. I’m doing my best.”
Rachel sighed, but her voice softened. “I’m not here to judge. I just thought you’d want some support.”
Rachel wandered into the living room, looking over the decorations Sophie had put up. “It’s lovely in here. I wasn’t sure you’d even bother putting a tree up.”
“I did it for Matthew,” Sophie muttered, watching Rachel closely.
Rachel’s eyes landed on the Elf on the Shelf. “This elf is so charming. I’ve always liked it. He watches everything, doesn’t he?”
A shiver ran down Sophie’s spine. She felt uneasy, but she didn’t say anything, brushing off the feeling and focusing on the task at hand.
The next afternoon, Matthew came bounding through the door after school. His face lit up with pure joy at the sight of the Christmas tree and decorations. Sophie’s heart lifted, but it didn’t last long. Rachel immediately started telling Matthew how to hang up his coat properly, how to wash his hands, even criticizing the way he stacked his schoolbooks.
“Your mom lets you do it this way? No wonder it’s a mess,” Rachel said, her tone dripping with judgment.
Sophie gritted her teeth, her patience hanging by a thread. She repeated to herself, Just a few more days. Just get through this.
The next morning, Sophie awoke to a knock at the door. She opened it, groggy and still half-asleep, to find her own mother, Liz, standing there with a small bag in her hand.
“Mom? What are you doing here?” Sophie asked, rubbing her eyes.
“I thought I’d come keep you company for Christmas,” Liz said, stepping inside. Sophie sighed, feeling overwhelmed.
“You’re not the only one,” Sophie muttered.
Liz raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
“Rachel showed up yesterday,” Sophie explained flatly.
Liz frowned. “Rachel? Well, it’s a good thing I came. You’ll need someone on your side.”
The next two days were a blur of tension. Every moment felt like a battle of wills. Rachel criticized Sophie’s parenting, constantly comparing it to how things were when Frank was still around. “Matthew needs more structure,” Rachel would say sharply, her words digging into Sophie’s already bruised heart.
Meanwhile, Liz would sigh sympathetically from the corner, her pity-filled words only adding to Sophie’s frustration. “Oh, honey, it must be so hard doing this all on your own.”
Sophie felt suffocated, trapped by their words and expectations. But nothing prepared her for what happened next.
One evening, after another exhausting day, Sophie found herself tidying up the living room, her mind craving a small moment of peace. Her eyes landed on the Elf on the Shelf, sitting innocently on the mantel.
Something about its eyes seemed off—unnatural. She picked it up, turning it over in her hands. That’s when she saw it—a small slit on the back. Her stomach twisted in fear.
With shaking hands, Sophie opened the slit and pulled out a small flash drive. Her heart pounded as she rushed to her room, locked the door behind her, and plugged it into her computer.
The screen filled with footage—clips of Sophie crying, struggling with the mess of daily life, moments she shared with Matthew. And worse—there were clips of Rachel and Liz, too. They were watching Sophie. Watching everything.
A wave of anger and betrayal surged through Sophie as she realized who had been behind the camera. There was no question now.
She stormed into Rachel’s room, the flash drive clenched tightly in her hand. “What is this?” she demanded, her voice thick with rage.
Rachel looked up, a blank expression on her face. “I don’t know. What are you talking about?”
Sophie’s face flushed red as she stepped closer. “I found a hidden camera inside the elf. Don’t play dumb. I know it was you.”
Rachel’s eyebrows lifted in surprise. “A hidden camera? That’s horrible. We should call the police.”
Sophie’s glare hardened. “Stop pretending. I know you’ve been trying to gather evidence to prove I’m a bad mom so you can take Matthew away.”
Rachel’s mouth opened, but she didn’t speak right away. Finally, she muttered, “That’s not true. Yes, I’ve thought about Matthew living with me, but I knew it would hurt him. He belongs here with you.”
Sophie wasn’t convinced. “I want you gone. Now.”
Rachel crossed her arms, refusing to leave. “I’m not going anywhere. If you want me gone, go ahead and call the police.”
Sophie slammed the door shut behind her as she left. She was done.
Later that evening, Sophie found herself sitting on the edge of her bed, tears rolling down her face. Everything—the invasion of her privacy, the constant judgment, the feeling of being trapped—felt too much to bear.
She didn’t hear Liz enter until she spoke softly, “Sweetheart, what’s wrong?”
Sophie looked up, tears blurring her vision. “It’s Rachel. She’s trying to set me up.”
Liz sat down next to her, frowning. “I knew that woman couldn’t be trusted. What happened?”
Sophie reached down and grabbed a piece of paper that had slipped out of Liz’s bag. Her heart sank as she read it—a receipt for a surveillance camera. Her hands shook as she held it up. “What is this?!”
Liz’s face went pale as she reached for the receipt. “Sweetheart, let me explain.”
Sophie jerked it away. “So it was you? You put a camera in the elf? Why would you do that?!”
Liz sighed heavily. “Because you’re not managing, Sophie. You’re still grieving Frank. You don’t visit me. I barely get to see Matthew anymore. I thought he’d be better off with me, but I needed proof.”
Sophie’s anger flared. “Better off? Did you ever think about how Matthew feels? We’re doing fine! I’m doing my best to give him a good life!”
Liz shook her head. “I just wanted to help. When you’re stronger, we can talk about him coming back to you.”
Sophie stood up, her voice rising. “I needed help from my mom, not for her to take my son away!”
Liz’s voice hardened. “It’s for the best.”
Sophie’s eyes blazed with fury. “Get out. Now.”
Liz froze. “What?”
“Get out of my house!” Sophie shouted, pointing to the door.
Liz packed her things quickly, avoiding Sophie’s gaze. She didn’t look back as she left. Sophie stood in the doorway, watching her mother climb into a taxi. Her chest felt tight with the weight of it all.
Matthew came into the room, his small face full of concern. “Where is Grandma Liz going?”
“She had to leave,” Sophie whispered, trying to keep her voice steady.
Matthew wrapped his arms around her. “Good. She wanted me to go with her, but I want to live with you.”
Sophie held him close, her heart swelling with love for her son. “No one’s ever taking you away, kiddo. I promise.”
From the corner of her eye, Sophie saw Rachel walk into the kitchen. Their eyes met, and Sophie mouthed, I’m sorry. Rachel gave her a small nod, her face unreadable. But Sophie didn’t care anymore. This was their life. She would protect it—no matter what.
What do you think of the story? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
