Yoonchae x Sophia

Written by Fufu830 and @Minaliter

On Christmas night, the house was quiet, save for the soft hum of the Christmas tree lights twinkling in the corner of the living room. Yoonchae lay in her bed, eyes wide open, staring at the ceiling. The excitement of the holiday was still buzzing in her chest. She could hear the faint sounds of her parents' laughter from downstairs as they cleaned up after dinner, but she couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing. The Christmas night, magical and full of joy, felt incomplete without the comfort of sleep.

Yoonchae turned onto her side and sighed. Her mind was racing—thoughts of presents, of the delicious food they had shared, of the carols sung earlier that evening. Everything was so perfect, and yet her body refused to relax. She pulled her blanket up to her chin, trying to feel cozy, but the sense of restlessness lingered. It had been a long day, and she knew she needed sleep, but she couldn't seem to let go of the joy, the energy, the lightness of the evening.

Just as she was about to toss and turn again, the door creaked open. Yoonchae blinked, surprised to see her mother, Sophia, standing in the doorway, a soft smile on her face.

"Can't sleep, darling?" Sophia asked, her voice gentle, yet full of warmth.

Yoonchae shook her head, sitting up in bed. "I can't, Mama. I'm too happy... but also too awake."

Sophia chuckled softly as she walked into the room, sitting down on the edge of the bed. "I understand. Christmas does that to people sometimes—fills them with so much joy that it's hard to quiet the mind."

Yoonchae nodded, the weight of the day still pressing on her chest. "It was a perfect day," she murmured. "But now I can't stop thinking about everything... all the lights and presents and the songs we sang."

Sophia's eyes softened as she reached out, brushing a lock of Yoonchae's hair behind her ear. "I know, sweetie. Christmas is full of magic, but you need your rest too. You know, even the stars need their time to sleep before they shine again."

Yoonchae giggled a little, liking the idea of stars needing rest. "But the stars never seem to stop shining. They're always there."

"True," Sophia agreed. "But even the stars need to rest so they can shine brighter the next night. Maybe we can help you get to sleep too, so you can shine bright and full of energy tomorrow."

Yoonchae's eyes softened as she looked up at her mother. "How do you always know what to say, Mama?"

Sophia smiled, her heart swelling with love for her daughter. "I've had a lot of practice. And sometimes, all it takes is a little story. How about I tell you a Christmas story? One that'll help you close your eyes and drift off to sleep?"

Yoonchae nodded eagerly, her tired eyes already beginning to droop as she nestled back into her pillow. Sophia sat back, her voice taking on the familiar, soothing tone she knew her daughter loved.

"Once upon a time," she began, "there was a little girl named Clara, who lived in a snowy village. Every year, on Christmas Eve, she would look out her window and watch as the stars twinkled brightly in the sky. But this Christmas Eve, the stars seemed to be extra special. They were shining so brightly that Clara could almost hear them whispering to each other..."

As Sophia told the story, her voice softened, filling the room with the peaceful rhythm of her words. She wove the tale of Clara and the stars, a story about magic, kindness, and the beauty of the night sky. With every sentence, Yoonchae's breathing slowed. The calm cadence of her mother's voice began to settle the swirling thoughts in her mind. The world outside the window—filled with snowflakes gently falling, with the whispers of Christmas—felt further and further away as she let go of the day's excitement.

Sophia continued, unaware that her daughter had fallen asleep, her small chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. She paused for a moment, gazing lovingly at Yoonchae, her daughter now wrapped in the serenity of sleep. The room was peaceful, the quiet of Christmas night settling around them like a blanket.

Sophia smiled and kissed the top of Yoonchae's head, whispering softly, "Merry Christmas, my little star." She lingered a moment longer, listening to the quiet sound of her daughter's breath before she stood and quietly left the room, the door gently closing behind her.

In the stillness of the night, both mother and daughter were connected by an unspoken bond—a love that, like the stars, was constant, shining through the quiet moments and the joyful ones alike.