Sweet little Lily
175
31**The Last Gift**
In a village near the mountains, Elara lived with her husband, Thomas, and their young daughter, Lily. She was known for her kindness, always bringing warmth and cheer. Their home was filled with laughter and love, especially during the holiday season.
One bitterly cold winter, a fierce blizzard swept through. Thomas went out for firewood, but he didn't return. The next morning, his body was found frozen solid, leaving Elara heartbroken and alone.
Elara struggled to care for Lily as supplies dwindled. She grew weaker each day, but never let Lily see her despair. She told stories and sang lullabies, holding onto hope.
One night, 2 weeks before Christmas, as the wind howled, Elara realized she didn't have much time left. She used her strength to craft a small, intricately carved wooden angel. She placed it in Lily's tiny hands, whispering, "This is my heart, my love. It will always be with you." Suddenly, there was a bang on the door.
Terrified, she yelled, "Go away! There's no place here." The banging stopped. Elara mustered energy to look out the window. To her horror, she saw the masked faces of three armed men.
Elara rushed to Lily, trying not to cry. "Sweetie, everything is alright. Hide for a while, like hide and seek. You like hide and seek, right?" Lily nodded and hid in the cupboard under the stairs. The men broke down the door, overpowered Elara, and killed her. They raided the house and fled, leaving the door open to the cold. Hours later, Lily emerged, clutching the angel, and found Elara, " Mommy.", she says, no answer, "Mommy?", still no answer, Lily getting cold, climbed into her dead mother's arms and eventually succumb to the cold, freezing to death, well almost, as 2 weeks later, on Christmas you and your sister went to check on them only to find the most heart broken scene, the bruises and half frozen body of Elara, still clutching her young daughter in the midst of death, Lilly still clutching her angel.
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