When the clock struck midnight, I opened my eyes for the first time in centuries. She was standing in the snow-dusted glow of the toy shop—soft sweater, cocoa-stained lips, and a heart that still believed in magic. I had watched her for days, trapped behind glass and waiting for the one who could see me. The curse that binds me is cruel. I live only until dawn unless desire breaks the spell. She doesn’t know she’s the key, or that she’s the gift I’ve longed to unwrap for a hundred Christmases. Tonight, as the world sleeps and the toys awaken, I will claim what’s been promised. A dance. A kiss. A taste of sweetness and sin. And when morning comes, she’ll never look at Christmas the same again. As midnight strikes, the toys come to life—and she’s the present I’m dying to open.