Claire's POV - Christmas Morning
The sound of the great clock chimming woke me with a start. I sat bolt up, looking around wildly. I was back in my own room, in my own bed, not in living room, not in the castle. In my own room, in my own normal houuse. Snow was falling in great white clumps from the sky out my window.
I jumped out my bed, grabbing my flannel robe and wrapping it around me tightly. It was six oclock in the morning, i could already hear my mom downstairs in the kitchen. I rushed down the stairs, my heart pounding. I found my mom and grandma in the kitchen, pouring coffee into theirs cups and chatting quitly. When i burst into the room they both looked up in surprise.
"Claire!" My mom asked "Are you alright sweet heart?"
"Where is he?" I gasped "Where is he?"
"Where is who sweet heart?" Grandma asked, concern wrinkling her already wrinkled face
"My nutcracker" I exclaimed "Where is he?"
"We thought you took him upstairs with you" My mom replied "We didnt find anything in the living room this morning"
Grandma smiled
"Would you like to open your presants?" She asked sweetly "Or would you like to wait for your dad and brother to get up"
"I-I will wait" I said shakily, turning around and stumbling back up the stairs
I tore my bedroom apart, litterally, it was a disaster when i was done. But i couldnt find my nutcracker anywhere. It was seven oclock by the time i had given up, crumpling to the floor and burying my face in my hands.
Kris wasnt here, he wasnt some magical nutcracker, there was no witch, no guardian, no nothing. Just me, Claire, alone, and extremely heart broken.
It had just been a dream, a stupid dream. Kris was still gone, he was never comming back.
I got dressed after that, pulling on a pair of jeans and a green sweater with a drop neck. I pulled my hair up into a messy bun, not carring if it looked good or not. When i went downstairs i shuffled my feet, not really in the Christmas spirit anymore. How could i be? after such an amazing dream? how could i possibly go back to reality?
When i got to the living room my brother was already ripping into his preasants. Like there was wrapping paper everywhere, this kid didnt waste time. My grandparents and dad were sitting on the large sofa, watching him with warm smiles. I wish it was that easy for me, i wished that i could wake up on Christmas morning and feel nothing but exitement and joy, instead of this heart break and depression.
Grandma handed me a presant,smiling at me sadly, she must have guessed what had me so down, that or she thought i was upset about losing my nutcracker. I sat down on the floor by the fire place, it was pretty wrapping paper, silver and shinny. I opened the box carefully, being careful not to rip the wrapping paper. I didnt usually do this, i just really wasnt in the mood for Christmas anymore. I was to sad.
"Whats got you down Claire?" My dad asked "Arent you excited about your presants?"
I shrugged
"Christmas just isnt the same anymore" I commented "It doesnt feel...right"
Dad patted my shoulder, his eyes holding sympathy.
"It will be alright" He said softly
The doorbell rang and my mom went to answer it. I was just begining to open the lid of my box when her loud cry startled me, causing me to drop it.
"Claire!" She shrieked "Claire come quik!"
I stood up, running out of the room. What was it? what had happened? was it a mouse? my mom hated mice.
