Alternative Christmas Ending

Joy sat on her bed, staring out the window at the snow gently falling outside. It was Christmas Eve, and the world looked like a winter wonderland, but inside her heart, there was only a heavy fog of sadness. It had been nearly two decades since her father, Clayton, had married Joni and moved far away. In that time, their once-close bond had grown distant, frayed by Joni’s coldness and the miles that separated them.

As a child, Joy had adored her father. Clayton was her hero, always there to share stories, teach her to ride a bike, and show her how to build things with his own hands. But when Joni entered the picture, everything changed. She had a sharp tongue and a cold demeanor, and it quickly became clear that she did not want Joy in their lives. Clayton, caught in a web of love and obligation, moved away and allowed Joni to dictate the terms of their relationship.

Joy longed for her father, but every attempt to reach out was met with Joni’s icy disapproval. “You’re where you need to be,” she would say dismissively when Joy asked to visit.  As the years passed, excuses piled up like the snow outside, and Joy felt more like a ghost haunting her father’s life rather than a daughter.

Now, as an adult, Joy faced an insurmountable distance—both physical and emotional. She had tried for years to win Joni over, like bringing gifts or sending cards, but each effort felt like throwing pebbles into a vast ocean—distant and meaningless. Joni held onto her grudges tightly, and the reasons were petty, like a slight from years ago or a misunderstanding that had been blown out of proportion. Joy didn’t understand why Joni couldn’t see how much she loved her father and how much she missed him.

In the past few months, however, things had taken a turn for the worse. Joy had received the call that made her heart drop: Clayton had been diagnosed with leukemia. Time was running out, and Joy felt an urgency she had never known before. She needed to see him, to hold his hand and tell him how much he meant to her, especially as the holidays approached.

But Joni had other plans. She refused to let Joy come for Christmas, insisting that the family needed to be together in their own way. Joy’s heart shattered at the thought of spending the holiday without her father, knowing this might be her last Christmas with him.

That night, as the clock ticked closer to midnight, Joy couldn’t shake the feeling of hopelessness that enveloped her. She curled up on her bed, clutching a small photo of her father, taken during happier times when she was just a little girl. Suddenly, a thought struck her. What if she could reach Clayton despite Joni’s barriers?

With renewed determination, Joy grabbed her phone and dialed the number she had memorized by heart. After a few rings, Joni answered, her voice as sharp as ever. “What do you want, Joy?”

“I want to speak to my dad,” Joy said, her voice steady despite the fear churning in her stomach.

Joni hesitated, and for a moment, Joy thought she would hang up. But instead, she sighed heavily. “Fine. But keep it short.”

Moments later, Joy heard her father’s familiar voice, frail and weak but still warm. “Joy? Is that you?”

“Dad!” she exclaimed, tears streaming down her cheeks. “I miss you so much. I just wanted to hear your voice. How are you feeling?”

They talked for what felt like an eternity, sharing stories and laughter, but beneath the surface, Joy felt the weight of unspoken words. Finally, she took a deep breath. “Dad, I want to come see you for Christmas. Please, I need to be with you.”

There was a long silence on the line, and Joy’s heart raced. “Joni… she—”

“I don’t care what Joni says! You’re my father, and I need you to know that I love you,” Joy interrupted, her heart pounding. “I don’t want to regret not being there for you.”

Clayton’s voice trembled. “I want to see you too, Joy. But… Joni…”

“Dad, please. Don’t let her keep us apart. You deserve to have your family with you during this time. You’re my everything, and I’ll always be your little girl.”

Joy could hear Clayton’s labored breathing on the other end, and she felt a flicker of hope. “I’ll talk to Joni,” he finally said, his voice barely above a whisper. “I’ll try.”

After they hung up, Joy felt a mix of anxiety and hope. She knew that Joni wouldn’t give in easily, but she also understood that her father was fighting a battle of his own. She spent the rest of the night pacing her room, praying for a miracle.

On Christmas morning, Joy awoke to the sound of her phone ringing. With a racing heart, she answered, and it was her father. “Joy, you can come,” he said, his voice stronger now. “I talked to Joni. She’s not happy about it, but I told her how much I need you here.”

Joy could hardly contain her joy. “I’ll be there as soon as I can!”

When she arrived at Clayton and Joni’s home later that day, the atmosphere was tense. Joni greeted Joy with a steely gaze, but Joy held her head high, determined to make this Christmas special for her father.

Throughout the day, Joy focused on Clayton, sharing stories, laughter, and the warmth of their bond. She made sure to include Joni in conversations, hoping to chip away at the walls she had built. Joni remained distant, but Joy refused to let that dampen her spirits.

As evening fell and they gathered around the Christmas tree, Clayton’s eyes sparkled with a mix of love and gratitude. Joy handed him a handmade ornament, a small replica of a bike he had taught her to ride. “I made this for you, Dad. I wanted you to have something to remember our adventures.”

Tears glistened in Clayton’s eyes as he took the ornament. “Thank you, Joy. This means the world to me.”

In that moment, something shifted in the room. Joni, who had been watching from the sidelines, finally spoke up. “You’re a good daughter, Joy,” she said, her voice softer than before. “Clayton has always been proud of you.”

Joy looked at Joni, surprised. “Thank you. I just want us all to be together, especially now.”

As they shared stories and memories, Joy felt the distance between them begin to close. It wasn’t an instant transformation, but in that moment, she could see a glimmer of understanding in Joni’s eyes—perhaps even the possibility of healing old wounds.

As the night wore on, Joy knew that whatever happened next, she had made the most of this Christmas with her father. And for the first time in a long time, she felt hope blossoming in her heart, a promise of new beginnings and a chance to mend the broken bonds of their family.