labellerebelle
The box was wrapped in sparkly silver and gold paper and tied up with a neat bow that Mom had carefully curled with scissors the way she always did. It sat in the glow of the Christmas tree - the only light in the room - and seemed to me to shine especially brightly compared to all the other gifts. It beckoned to me like a siren. I knew I shouldn't get any closer, shouldn't touch it. Shouldn't pick it up and shake it just once. But against my will, my feet propelled me towards it, as if it was a magnet and I was made of iron.