Santa’s Shrine

Harper is spending Christmas with her boyfriend’s family for the first time, which means learning new traditions, new routines, and figuring out how not to feel like a guest in someone else’s house.Eli’s family takes Christmas very seriously. They do things the same way every year, and it’s clear that questions aren’t welcome. Harper tells herself the unease she feels is normal. Every family has quirks, especially around the holidays.But as Christmas gets closer, the mood in the house begins to shift. What felt merely unfamiliar at first starts to feel deliberate. Expectations escalate. And Harper slowly understands that being invited for the holidays doesn’t necessarily mean you’re welcome in the way you thought.