The life-changing Christmas

"Bring the money home if you want us to love you!!!", said Ela's stepmom to her.

"Could I please be with you for Christmas?", said Ela to her parents. "I have already sold a whole basket of candy..."

Her stepmom was not satisfied with that and she tried to blackmail her emotionally. She asked if she wanted her parents to starve. Ela hoped her father would support her. There was a snowstorm outside so she asked her father to let her in. But her stepmother had him under her thumb for a long time. He said to Ela that she had to obey her new mom and she was always right.

So, they gave her the candy basket and closed the door. The girl had no choice but to gather her courage and wits and went to sell candy. She walked along the empty snow-covered streets. She looked into the windows and saw children spend Christmas eve with their parents.

As the freezing wind tried to knock her off her feet, she knocked on every door and smiled sweetly. She offered them the candy saying that they were the most delicious Christmas candy ever. Every person was surprised to see a little girl selling candy. They asked her what she was doing there and if she didn't like Christmas. However, they bought candy and suggested her to go home early.

Ela's hands were shivering with cold. She dreamed of a hot dinner but still had a lot of candy in her basket. The further she walked, the more terrified she became. And not because of the darkness, but due to the old house at the end of the street. However, soon there was just one candy and one house left. She trembled with unknown fears and said, "Oh no! The Cannibal's house!"

Her stepmom told her that a crazy man lived there. He ate his little daughter years ago, and all the children in the city were afraid to approach this house. Even some adults bypassed him. Suddenly, she saw the flame of a lit candle in the house. A creepy silhouette appeared in the window and whispered something to Ela. The frightened girl ran away screaming.

She reached home but the stepmother did not even listen to the poor child. She told her that she should have sold all the candy and got angry. Ela begged to finish the next day. She said that she was so cold and scared and asked them if she could go inside.

Her stepmother was fuming and said, "Lazy creature! I replaced your mother, and this is how you thank me?!"

Ela cried and looked pleadingly at her father, but as usual, he didn't stand by her side. He said to her, "How dare you come back without completing your errands?" She replied that she was so afraid to go to Cannibal's house. "Give him some candy and he won't touch you!", advised her stepmom and closed the door.

The girl had no choice but to return to the scary house. She was freezing, and her stomach was growling from hunger. However, she could not find the courage to knock on the door. She rather decided to wait for a passer-by and sell him candy.

Ela sat down, and after a few minutes, started falling asleep. When she was close to freezing, she saw a dark silhouette, looking like death.

Suddenly, she opened her eyes and said, "What happened? Where am I?" She looked around and realized that she was in Cannibal's house! She was so afraid and at that moment the scary silhouette was quickly approaching her. She closed her eyes and requested him not to eat her.

But suddenly, an ordinary man came out to Ela with a tray. He smiled and asked her why he would eat her if he had made pancakes. She asked him how she had got there. He replied that he saw her lying on the ground. A couple of minutes and she would have frozen. He also said that he couldn't leave her there because she looked so much like her daughter.

He was looking sad but Ela could not but said, "The one you ate?"

"What? No! My daughter was seriously ill. She was suffering from cancer. I spent many years fighting for her life, but I could not save her. She died on Christmas eve, and it changed me so much.", said the man.

Ela's eyes filled with tears and she hugged him. She could realize that people judged him by his looks, but they were wrong. She thanked him for saving her.

Suddenly he remembered that Ela's family must be searching for her all night. So, he told her that he would take her home. Ela still hoped that her parents were worried about her. And the man and she came to her father's house.

In the window, they saw a happy, married couple who was unpacking gifts and having fun. He was so upset and asked Ela why her family was celebrating when she was not home all night. Ela was upset too and replied that they didn't need her, actually, nobody needed her. He replied that they didn't deserve such a good daughter like her. He added that he would help her find the most loving family.

Ela was also surprised but became much happy. Because she would love to live with that generous unknown person instead of her family.

Sometimes a stranger is kinder than a close person. So, there is good, even where you least expect it to be.