When she was younger, they decorated the Christmas tree together. There would be Christmas music and cups of hot apple cider. They laughingly argued about which topper had been placed on the tree. Once all the ornaments were hung and before the tissue paper and boxes had been put away, they sat on the floor around the tree with all the lights turned off, only the strings of white bulbs illuminating the space. Gradually, as the years passed, hanging ornaments became less and less of an ordeal. One year no one remembered to make cider. The following year there was no cider or music. In the end, she was the only one left. She knew that if she didn't step up, they might not even have a tree, let alone one with any kind of decoration. The last year before she left, no one even mentioned getting a tree. On Christmas Eve she went to the parking lot alone to pick one out and hung up the ornaments in silence. He made himself a cup of apple cider and heated it in the microwave. He turned off the living room lights and sat down looking at the tree. There wasn't even anyone home. His parents were shopping for a new mattress, trying to take advantage of any last-minute sales. His brother was at a friend's house playing a violently killing video game. Her sister was at her boyfriend's house spending time with his family instead of her own. In the corner of the room were five piles of presents, each quite small and each unwrapped. There was simply a note on each to identify whose gifts they were. No more festive wrapping paper to tear up with impatience and joy. No more bows with tape on the underside to stick on heads. No more surprises. He dug up the gift box from the… medium of paper… a digital camera but no batteries. A check for $500. Not a terrible collection of gifts, but still not ones she would have picked out on her own. He didn't even know what the others had gotten besides the gifts he had chosen. Vegan cookbooks and a set of handmade ceramic bowls for sister. A new, more supportive gaming chair for his brother. A painting of the place where his parents met for his mother. New ski equipment for his father. He looked up at the tree as he wiped his eyes. An ornament overhead caught his attention. Nativity scene in silver filigree. What a loving family they must have been. What community and unity they must have enjoyed that night. Mary and Joseph celebrate the birth of their son, instead of leaving him at home while they went to buy a mattress. They would never celebrate Christmas isolated from each other. They would have been happy.