The Last-Minute Letter

Lucy peeked behind her dresser and froze. The letter. Her letter to Santa. She had written it weeks ago, folded it neatly, and tucked it safely under her bed—or so she thought. Now it was crumpled and smudged at the bottom of the pile of forgotten papers.

Her heart sank. Christmas Eve. How could she have forgotten? She scrambled to pick it up, smoothing the wrinkles as fast as she could. “Santa has to get this,” she whispered to herself. “It’s… really important.”

She ran to the window. Snow had fallen thick and soft, blanketing the neighborhood in shimmering white. The lights of the houses twinkled faintly through the drifting flakes. Lucy laced her boots tight, wrapped her scarf around her neck, and pushed open the door. She didn’t have time to be cold or scared. She had to deliver her letter. Tonight.

As she stepped into the yard, she heard a soft voice:

“That’s a very important-looking envelope you’ve got there.”

Lucy spun around. At the edge of the snow-dusted pine trees stood… a reindeer. But not just any reindeer. This one was small, with a shiny brown coat, a white patch on her chest, and a single floppy antler that wobbled a little when she moved. Her eyes were big and gentle, sparkling like the stars above.

“I-I’m Lucy,” she stammered. “I’m trying to get this to Santa.”

The reindeer took a delicate step forward. “I’m Holly,” she said softly. “And I think I can help. I know a secret path that leads closer to the North Pole, but it’s tricky. You’d need a friend.”

Lucy blinked. A friend? That was… exactly what she had wished for in her letter. But she hardly had time to think about that. “Yes! Please, Holly. Will you help me?”

Holly nodded, her floppy antler bouncing. Together, they plunged into the glowing snow, crunching softly beneath their feet.

The first challenge came quickly. A wide snowdrift blocked the path, taller than Lucy’s waist. She tried to jump, but the snow swallowed her boot. Holly nudged her gently. “Try bouncing on the snow like this!” she said, hopping lightly from one paw to the other.

Lucy laughed, copying Holly’s movement. The snow drifted under her feet, but she managed to cross, her laughter mingling with the sound of Holly’s soft snorts.

Further ahead, the snow began to sparkle unnaturally, the trees bending under the weight of frozen crystals that twinkled like bells. The air smelled of peppermint and pine. Lucy gasped. “It’s… magical.”

Holly grinned. “It’s the Snowglimmer Forest. Only a few know the way. But follow me!”

Together, they tiptoed carefully, stepping over frozen roots and ducking under shimmering branches. Lucy told Holly about her wish. “I… I don’t want toys or presents this year,” she admitted. “I just… I just want a friend.”

Holly’s ears twitched. “I think we might already be helping each other,” she said softly.

Lucy smiled. Somehow, Holly wasn’t just a helper; she felt like someone who really understood her. A friend, perhaps, even if it was only the beginning.

At the edge of the forest, they came upon a yawning elf gatekeeper. He blinked at them, rubbing his eyes. “The last letters are being sorted… hurry along now, little ones,” he mumbled.

Lucy held up her letter. “Please! It’s… really important!”

The elf squinted. “Hmm… alright, but you’ll need to get to the runway fast. Santa’s almost ready to leave!”

The runway stretched out beyond the forest, sparkling with a faint golden light. Lucy’s eyes widened. The North Pole. She could see the sleigh, gleaming and ready, the reindeer lined up, their bells jingling faintly in the crisp night. But Santa was checking his list, preparing to lift off. Time was running out.

Holly lowered herself and whispered, “I… I can’t fly very far. But if you ride on my back, I can glide with you to the sleigh!”

Lucy’s heart pounded. “Really?”

Holly nodded nervously. “It’s my first time… but I want to try.”

Carefully, Lucy climbed onto Holly’s back. The little reindeer crouched, then pushed off with all her might. For a heartbeat, they were just gliding, the wind whistling past them, snowflakes dancing around. Holly wobbled, her floppy antler bouncing, but Lucy held on tight, laughing despite the rush of fear and excitement.

They landed softly near Santa just as he glanced up from his list. Lucy jumped down, clutching her letter. Santa smiled warmly, his eyes twinkling behind his spectacles.

“And what have we here?” he asked kindly.

Lucy handed him the letter. Her hands trembled. Santa read it slowly:

“Dear Santa, I don’t want toys this year. I just really need… a friend.”

He looked at her, then at Holly, who nuzzled Lucy’s hand gently. “Well,” Santa said, chuckling softly, “sometimes the best wishes are answered in ways you least expect.”

Lucy looked at Holly. Her heart leapt. Holly blinked at her, shyly and softly, as if to say, I think you already have your wish.

Santa gave a small wink. “Holly here has a very important assignment for you, Lucy. She’s going to be your… friend.”

Lucy gasped. “Really?”

Holly nodded, and in that moment, the snowy night felt brighter, warmer, and full of magic. She had asked for a friend—and here she was, right beside her, the one she had met on this wild adventure.

The sleigh lifted off into the night sky, bells jingling, reindeer soaring. Lucy and Holly watched until it was just stars above. Then Holly nudged her gently. “Come on,” she whispered. “We have Christmas morning to enjoy!”

Lucy hugged her new friend tightly. “Thank you,” she said softly. “For helping me, for being… you.”

Holly’s floppy antler wobbled with a happy shake. “And thank you,” she said, “for being my friend too.”

Morning came, and snowflakes drifted lazily from the sky. Lucy woke to find Holly waiting outside her window, a tiny North Pole collar glinting around her neck.

Santa’s sleigh had left presents for everyone, but the best gift for Lucy wasn’t under the tree. It was beside it, warm and alive, with a soft nuzzle and the sparkliest eyes she had ever seen.

“Good morning, Lucy,” Holly said, her little bell jingling.

Lucy giggled. “Good morning, Holly. Merry Christmas!”

The two of them laughed and played in the snow, their footprints mingling, their hearts full. Lucy knew, for the first time in a long time, that she was never truly alone. She had a friend—magical, brave, and just a little clumsy—and that was more than enough for Christmas.

And from that day on, Lucy and Holly shared every snowy adventure, every secret path, every Christmas Eve, knowing that sometimes, the best wishes really do come true.