Twenty Years Ago, I Played Santa for a Little Girl – This Christmas, She Came Back for Me

But we never did. Then last week, we saw you. Same store.

Same tea aisle. I recognized you immediately.”

I blinked. “What?”

“I followed you out,” Mia said gently.

“Asked your neighbors about you. One of them told us you live alone. That you keep to yourself.

That you seem… sad.” Her voice softened. “It broke my heart.”

Her mother gripped my hand tighter.

“I’m dying. It’s cancer. Stage four.

But before I go, I want to give you something.”

She then said something I never expected.

“I want you to stay and run my business. Be part of this.

Be part of our family.”

I tried to speak, but nothing came out.

She smiled gently, tears in her eyes.

I broke. Right there beside her bed, I cried like a child. They were serious.

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