This year had been particularly difficult. A relationship I thought might lead to marriage ended abruptly in September. My best friend Alicia moved to Seattle for a job opportunity. The prospect of another Christmas alone in my empty apartment felt utterly unbearable.

So, I decided to surprise my family for Christmas. No warning, no chance for them to make excuses or for me to lose my nerve. I bought expensive gifts, requested time off work, and rented a car for the grueling five-hour drive from Boston to Lakeside. The entire journey, I rehearsed reconciliations in my head, imagining tearful hugs and the healing of old wounds.

As I pulled onto our street, I noticed several cars already parked in the driveway and along the curb. Through the windows, I could see the twinkling of Christmas lights and the silhouettes of people moving about inside. Music and laughter spilled out into the cold December evening. My heart lifted at the thought of a full family Christmas, something I hadn’t truly experienced in years.