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It has been a whirlwind few months for Payson Keeler. Coming out of the Olympics with four gold medals, a silver, and a bronze. The post-Olympic games media tour has kept her busy these last five months. Thankfully, the media madness has died down enough for her to come home to Minnesota for Christmas. Because of her gymnastics it has been a while since she has been with her whole family for Christmas. Before the games her parents and sister moved back to their hometown of St. Paul Minnesota. Here she sits in the corner of their living room, her grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins all piled into the room. Talking, laughing and smiles fill the space. The noise level is reminiscent of the noise in the arena during a competition.

Payson looked around and took in the sights surrounding her. A Christmas village stretching from the mantle of the fireplace to the brick ledge extending out from the fireplace. Candy covered houses stretching into a snowman village, toy shoppes, the reindeer roost, and houses stretching out to glittery snow-covered hills. A barn and an ice rink traveling down the hill, with trees interspersed. Streetlamps and lighted buildings making the whole area glow and glitter. Boughs of evergreen garland wrapped with twinkling lights broken up by red velvet bows line the mantle place and entertainment center. Snowflake garland with white lights line the doorways, with delicate crystal looking icicles hanging from it. The bookcases around the room are covered with white tissue paper, illuminated by white lights from behind it.

A large fir tree standing proudly in the corner of the room, glowing and twinkling with lights, ornaments of red, white, blue and gold hanging pristinely from the branches. Family heirloom ornaments interspersed throughout the branches. Delicate strands of white beads draped from branch to branch with streams of silver tinsel lightly placed on each branch, looking like a tree covered in icicles. An antique multipoint star illuminated from beneath glowing at the top of the tree. The room smelling of a fresh cut trees, with notes of sweet cookies and spiced cider wafting in from the kitchen. The record player in the opposite corner of the room spreading the silky sounds of Bing Crosby singing.

Payson smiled at the atmosphere in the room. Everyone else deep in conversations and leaving her to her own devices. She pulled out her phone and opened Facebook, curious of the happenings of her friends on this Christmas Eve. After scrolling for a few minutes, she sees a post and picture that her former coach was tagged in. He was standing in a large room with dark wood trimmed walls, wearing a white dress shirt with the top two buttons undone and the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. One arm is around the shoulders of a beautiful brunette woman wearing black. They were both smiling and looking directly into the camera. The text of the post was written in what she assumed was Romanian, since the picture was location tagged in Bucharest Romania. She clicked on the translation button and wished she hadn’t. Finally together again! A Christmas miracle is what it read. ‘He has a girlfriend? I thought and hoped that now I’m no longer his gymnast, maybe he would return my feelings for him. I guess he never did have feelings for me. I guess he moved on, and left me behind.’ Payson thought and put her phone in her pocket. She got up, walked to the back door, put on her coat and walked outside to the porch.

***

Bucharest, Romania – Christmas Eve

The ballroom was large and spacious, ivory wallpaper covered the walls, and deep mahogany trimming on all the walls and windows. The floors were light ivory glossy tile and the whole room felt understated yet opulent. A Christmas tree was placed on one side of the room, covered in lights, red ornaments, and snow-covered pinecones. White lights lined the tops of the walls and the fireplace. People milled about talking, while others danced. Sasha Belov was standing off to the side of the room, staring at the glowing tree. A beautiful brunette woman saw this and made her way over to him. The click clack of her heels on the floor went unnoticed by Sasha, until she was standing before him in her black mid-calf length dress, silver heels, and silver sparkling jewelry. 

“What is wrong?” She asked, in accented English, causing him to drag his eyes away from the tree and look at her. “Nothing, Cosmina.” He replied with a sigh.

“It’s woman then.” Cosmina said, and his feeling on the subject was plain to see. He grimaced and crossed his arms across his chest. “Where is she?” Dimitri Belov, having overheard the conversation, walked over, and stood next to her.

“In America living her dream. I can’t ruin it.”

“How do you know you are not her dream?”

“It’s impossible.” Sasha said, turning from them and walking to the other side of the room.

“He is fool..I have seen them together. They complement each other..they are perfect together.” Dimitri said, blowing out a breath and gesturing wildly.

“Who is she?” Cosmina asked, her brow furrowing in thought.

“Payson Keeler. His gymnasta. I show you.” He said, pulling his phone from his pocket and punching the screen with his pointer finger. He showed her various pictures and videos of Payson, and the both of them together.

“You are right…how she looks at him…” She trailed off, leaving the conclusion unsaid. “I will not let him ruin both their lives.” She said, turning on her heel and walking swiftly towards where Sasha was standing. Her skirt swished against her legs with each step. Dimitri followed closely behind. Sasha glanced up at the sound of heels clacking and sighed.

“I don’t want to talk about it. Please drop it.”

“You must see reason, Alecu!” Dimitri said, pointing a finger at Sasha.

Sasha shook his head and barked out a laugh. “Believe me, I’ve tried.”

“Did you win gold medal by playing it safe?” Cosmina asked, her arms crossed across her chest.

“You know I didn’t. I also blew out my knew and destroyed any chance I had at continuing to compete.”

“How will you gain happiness if you don’t take risk?” She asked, Sasha sighed and looked down at his feet. “How do you know that you are not her Christmas wish? Would you deny her something as simple as you?” Cosmina uncrossed her arms and placed her right hand on his shoulder. She leaned toward him slightly before she spoke again. “You will not know unless you go to her and confess your feelings.”

Dimitri and Cosmina stood there and waited, Waited for a reaction or sign from Sasha. Emotions played across his face, and the seconds ticked to minutes before he looked at them and spoke. “Will you help me?” Cosmina smiled and immediately got to work.

***

St. Paul Minnesota – Christmas Eve

Payson sat down on a chair that was sitting on the covered porch and looked out at the sky. The sun had set, but night had yet to fully encompass the horizon. The crisp clean air smelled of snow, and the cold settled in through her nose and into her chest. Neighboring houses were decorated with lights on the eves, some were white, and others were multicolored. A few houses had lights strung up on the trees, making for pockets of light throughout the evening air.

The door opened and shut, footsteps made their way to Payson, before the owner of them sat down in the chair next to her sister.

“What’s wrong Pay?” Becca asked, stuffing her hands into the pockets of her coat.

“What makes you think that something’s wrong?”

“Oh, come on! You love Christmas! Normally you’re all smiles, in a Christmas sweater, and happy as can be. Instead, you’re sitting outside by yourself frowning at the Thompson’s Christmas lights.”

Payson shrugged her shoulders and put her own hands in her coat pocket. She looked over from the neighbors lights to the sky where bits of white started to fall peacefully down to the earth.  

“Come on Pay. Spill..what’s wrong?" Becca asked.

“I saw a post on Facebook…Sasha was tagged in it…he…he was with a woman. A beautiful woman…” Payson said slowly, not making eye contact with her sister.

“Let me see.” She said, as she pulled her phone out and navigated through the app.

“I had hoped that maybe after the games…we would…I would tell…”

“That you guys would get together and you’d finally tell him that you’re in love with him?” Becca asked, cutting off her sister train of thought.

“Yeah. Something like that…Obviously I was  stupid to ever think he would have feelings for me…or even just see me as anything but his former gymnast.” Payson said, looking over at Becca.

“I don’t think this means what you think it means. I mean there is no trace of a relationship on her page, no relationship status at all, and the only comment on the post says the time for family to be together.”

“He was smiling Becs.” Payson said, her voice low, her brow furrowed, and her mouth turned down in a frown.

“I’ve seen you guys together. I don’t think this means what you think it does.” Becca said, waving her phone at her sister. “Talk to him Pay.” She said, before getting up, hugging her sister, and walking back inside.

Payson sat there for some time. Just breathing in the cold air, watching the snow fall and cover the earth in a fresh blanket of white. Night fell and darkness encompassed the horizon. The only light coming from the lighted houses, two street lights, and the moon. The first star made it’s presence known in the sky, and twinkled brightly. Brighter than that of an ordinary star. ‘It must be a Christmas star…I have nothing to loose at this point. What could it hurt?’ she thought. She looked at the star, her mind made up, then spoke.

“Starlight, Brilliant and Quaint

On this first star I see this night

Let me envisage, withal mine might

Have this wish, I wish this night

I wish that Sasha returned my feelings. I wish that we could be together.” Payson said, closing her eyes and hanging her head. The star flashed brightly, so quickly that is was easily missed. Payson raised her head and simply sat outside, taking in the sights of the season. Voices and music carried through the door, reminding her that she will never truly be alone.

She stood up, looking at the sky one last time, before turning to make her way to the door. The sound of a car on the otherwise quiet street got her attention. She turned her head toward the driveway and saw a yellow taxi cab pulling up in front of the house. The back door was opened even before the cab came to a complete stop. A tall figure shut the cab door and turned toward the house, a worn leather bag in one hand and a crinkled piece of paper in the other. He glanced down at the paper before making his way toward the house. Payson, saw his face illuminated by the streetlight at the end of the driveway.

“Sasha?” Payson asked, his head snapped towards her voice, her form among the shadows of the back porch.

“Payson?” He called, and ran towards the sound of her voice.

“I’m around back.” She said, moving from the door, across the porch, and down the steps to meet him in the back yard. He dropped his bag at his feet, and shoved the paper into his pocket.

“Payson, before you say anything, know that I never want to stand between you and your dreams. I do not want to ruin your Christmas, but I want you to know that I am irrevocably in love with you.” Sasha said, his breath leaving him in an exhale.

“I…I thought you were in Romania with your girlfriend?” Payson asked, her brown furrowed in a frown.

“Girlfriend?” Sasha asked.

“A beautiful brunette in a black dress? She posted a picture of you guys together on Facebook.” Payson said, her arms crossing across her chest.

“Cosmina? She’s my cousin.” Sasha said, and Payson visibly relaxed. Her shoulders dropped the tension they were carrying, and her arms went to her sides.

“Cousin?” Payson asked, Sasha nodded his head before opening his mouth to speak.

“She set me straight, told me to be brave and talk to you. Tell you how I feel. She’s the reason I’m here on Christmas, laying everything I have at your feet, in the hopes that you reciprocate my feelings.” Sasha said, taking her hands in his own, and held eye contact with her.

Payson let go of his hands and threw her arms around him. “You are my Christmas wish. You are my dream come true. I love you.” She said, pulling back just enough to lean forward and press her lips to his. His arms banded around her back and pressed them closer together. Her arms slipped around his neck and they lost themselves in each other’s embrace. The sound of singing floated out from the house, and they broke apart. Payson glanced at her watch. “It’s Christmas.” She breathed.

“Happy Christmas, Payson.” Sasha said, quietly so as not to break the moment.

“Merry Christmas, Sasha.” Payson said, a smile gracing her face. “Let’s go inside.” Payson led him by the hand towards the house. Stopping so he could grab his bag, before she passed through the door she looked up to the sky and saw the star twinkle. She smiled again, and went inside with Sasha at her side.