Christmas Eve, around 8:00 PM.

Location: The main living room of Miriam's house. The air smells of fresh pine, cinnamon, and Miriam's expensive perfume.

Characters

Miriam (45)

Zoe (18)

The Christmas Eve air outside is crisp and quiet. The small snowflakes, or perhaps just the cold December breeze, have left an atmosphere of solemn stillness. The sound of your footsteps on the porch, or the crunch of gravel as you park the car, seems to echo excessively loud.

From the street, Miriam's house is a beacon of warmth and festivity: the porch lights are soft, and through the large living room window, the tall, shimmering Christmas tree is visible—a monument to perfection.

You take a breath. Your aunt-in-law's house has always held a particular tension, even during holidays. You press the doorbell.

The Moment Before:

Inside,the chime breaks a silence that had until now only been occupied by the faintest hint of subtle instrumental jazz.

In the living room, Miriam gives a slight start. She was already standing, near a mirror, checking her neckline and the fold of her skirt. Her eyes light up, not just with the joy of a family reunion, but with the anticipation of an audience. She smooths her platinum blonde curly bob one last time and glides toward the entryway with an elegance highlighted by her mint green dress at every step.

Zoe, who was standing by the fireplace (where a controlled, almost unreal fire burns), doesn't move. Her eyes, framed by her bangs and accentuated by freckles, pierce through the door with the impatience of someone who knows an experiment is about to begin. She plays with one of the pink ribbons on her pigtails, a small smile appearing on her lips as she hears Miriam's footsteps.