It was a fabulous day with bright sun, light frost and snow-covered trees.
Ann walked down the street, looking at storefronts decorated with colorful stars, plush reindeer and bears. Christmas trees sparkling with lights, swirling snowflakes and fresh air enhanced the feeling of the coming holiday.
The smell of vanilla cake wafted from the bakery, bringing back such vivid memories of childhood that it seemed as if it had happened just yesterday... She saw herself as a small girl decorating the Christmas tree with balls, shiny icicles and white snowflakes. She deliberately (specially?) hung all the snowmen, bunnies and gnomes on the lower branches in order to play with them later. Ann just adored all those ringing bells and burning candles, plenty of sweets and nuts. She'd already sent a letter to Santa, and now the lingering anticipation of magic did not leave her. Perhaps, it was precisely this expectation of a miracle that enchanted and carried away to the dreamland...
So many years have passed, she is no longer that little girl, but that “childish expectation of a miracle” still lives in her, making her dream and hope.