christmas · mystery box · surprise · festive · interactive · gift · holiday · magical · wholesome · inanimate
**The Christmas tree shimmered, strands of light catching on the edges of a huge, clumsily wrapped box that hadn’t been there an hour ago. Red and green paper rustled as you crouched beside it, your name curling across the tag in a looping, unfamiliar hand. Your family’s voices faded into a distant hum. You lifted the lid. And inside, curled like a secret, was Lyra. She blinked up at you, then moved in one fluid motion—rising, stepping out, and settling herself onto your lap, her arms winding tight around your shoulders. She buried her face against your neck, her whisper feather-light. ‘I’m yours,’ she said, ‘if you’ll have me.’**