On Christmas Eve, a wealthy but solitary Dennis encounters a lost eight-year-old boy in the town square. Haunted by his childhood memories, Dennis soon finds his life changing in unexpected ways.

The square was lively with decorations and cheer. Children skated by, their cheeks red from the cold. Couples strolled close together, wrapped in warm clothing, smiling. A small group of singers performed near the large tree, their voices carrying warmth despite the chilly air.

I observed everything, trying to feel… something. You might think a successful man like me, an orphan who became a businessman, wouldn’t feel out of place here.

But I was alone, as I was every holiday season. I had a few relationships before, but my partners only saw money, not me.

Suddenly, I felt someone bump into me. I turned to find a young woman sitting on the ground, grinning up at me. Her laughter was infectious, and for a moment, I couldn’t help but smile back. She was striking, bright-eyed, with a spark that surprised me.

“Oops,” she chuckled, still on the ground. “Sorry! Guess I’m not as good on skates as I thought.”

“It’s okay,” I replied, offering a hand to help her up. “Are you all right?”

Almost immediately, a tall man approached, scowling as he pulled her away. “Hey, what’s going on? Hitting on my girl?”

“No, I wasn’t,” I quickly said, raising my hands in defense. “Just helping her up.”

“Yeah, well, don’t,” he muttered, glaring at me as he led her off. She looked back briefly, mouthing an apology, then disappeared into the crowd.

I stood there a moment, shaking my head. “So much for miracles,” I mumbled. I turned to leave, heading home.

Then I felt a gentle tug on my coat. I looked down, expecting the girl again, but instead saw a boy. He couldn’t have been more than eight, with large brown eyes and a nervous expression. He clutched a small keychain, trembling slightly.

“Excuse me, sir,” he said softly. “I… I need some help. I can’t find my family. I haven’t seen them in days.”

The words hit me hard, like a gust of cold air. “You… you lost your family?” I asked, bending down to his level. “When was the last time you saw them?”

He looked away, shifting his feet. “I’m not sure. I’ve been looking for a while. But… don’t call the police, please.”

“Not the police?” I questioned, confused. “But if you’ve been gone for days—”

He shook his head quickly. “No, no police. I heard tell that sometimes, when parents don’t have much money, the police take kids away. My family isn’t rich. They’re poor. I’m scared they’ll take me too.”

Feeling a pang of something long forgotten, I looked at him closely. I understood how he felt, worried about being taken from his family.

“Alright,” I said gently, placing a hand on his shoulder. “No police. We’ll figure this out. Trust me.”

He nodded, relief crossing his face. “Thank you, sir. I didn’t know who else to ask.”

“Call me Dennis,” I said. “And what’s your name?”

“Ben,” he replied, holding his keychain tighter.

“Okay, Ben,” I said. “Let’s get you home. Do you know where you live?”

He nodded. “It’s not far from here. I think I can show you.”

I called my driver, and we waited outside in the cold until he arrived. Ben climbed into the car first, tucking himself into the back seat. I followed, closing the door and glancing at him. “So,” I asked, trying to start conversation, “what kind of keychain is that? Looks special.”

He looked down, fingers gripping a small silver heart. “It’s… just a keychain they gave me once, at this place I stayed.”

I examined it more closely and realized it looked familiar.

“Do you like Christmas?” I asked instead.

“Yeah, it’s nice,” he mumbled, staring out the window.

When we reached his address, I got out and walked with him to the door. He knocked once, then again. No answer.

“Maybe they went to my grandparents’,” he said, though unsure.

I looked back at the brightly lit square. “Alright, Ben,” I said, kneeling down. “Maybe we should wait here a bit. We can watch the festivities. Have you ever gone skating?”

His eyes lit up. “No! Can we?”

“Of course. Let’s find some skates.”

Soon, we were on the ice. Ben wobbled at first, flailing with his arms. I wasn’t an expert, but I managed to stay upright. We slipped, tumbled, and laughed. I felt lighter than I had in many years.

“Look, Dennis! I’m doing it!” he exclaimed, balancing a little better with a grin.

“You’re a natural,” I said, jokingly. “I need lessons from you!”

After skating, we played a carnival game—trying to throw rings onto bottles. Though he didn’t win, he nearly toppled the stand, excited beyond measure.

“Can I have hot chocolate?” he asked, eyes fixed on the nearby stand.

“Absolutely,” I agreed. We bought steaming cups and sat on a bench, watching the crowd. As he sipped, Ben looked so content. His cheeks were rosy, and a peaceful expression crossed his face—a gift, I thought.

A warm feeling grew inside me, unfamiliar yet welcome. I had known this boy only a few hours, but I felt connected. I didn’t want the night to end.

Finally, I cleared my throat. “Ben, maybe it’s time we head back to the shelter.”

He looked up, surprised. His face fell for a moment. “How did you know?”

I smiled gently, pointing at his keychain. “I recognized that right away. They handed out similar ones at the shelter.”

His eyes widened. “You… you were there?”

I nodded. “A long time ago. I was your age then. I understand how you feel, wanting a family, even just temporarily.”

Ben looked down, nodding slowly. “I just wanted to feel like I belonged, even if just for Christmas.”

“Yeah,” I whispered. “I understand. And I’m glad I spent Christmas Eve with you, Ben.”

He looked up and I saw gratitude in his eyes. “Me too, Dennis.”

We quietly returned to the shelter, the evening’s warmth settling around us. When we arrived, a familiar figure was waiting outside. It was her—the young woman from earlier, her eyes opening wide with relief as she saw us.

She hurried over to Ben and hugged him tightly. “There you are! We were worried sick. We should call the police—”

Ben squeezed her hand, softly saying, “I was fine. Dennis helped me.”

She looked at me with a soft expression. “Thank you so much for bringing him back.” She exhaled slowly, then added with a tired smile, “I’m Sarah. I volunteer here. We’ve been looking all afternoon.”

She gazed at me with a mixture of exhaustion and what seemed like hurt.

I hesitated, then asked, “Rough night?”

She nodded, glancing away. “I found out my boyfriend… he was cheating on me tonight. Of all nights.” She laughed sadly, brushing away a tear. “That’s just how it is.”

On impulse, I said, “Would you like to join me for a coffee?”

She looked at Ben, then back at me. “Actually… yes. I’d love that.”