The night was eerily quiet without the sound of the city or cars. There was no rain pattering against the windows of the old cottage. The silence put me on edge. It made everything seem like it was on the brink of shattering.

"Celine?" Lieke whispers. She was never good at whispering, it would have been quieter if she'd shouted.

"Yeah, Lieke?"

"Are you awake?"

"No. I'm sleep talking." I hear a shuffle and then feel a hand slap onto my stomach and knock the wind out of me. Lieke starts giggling and once I can breathe again I roll onto my side to glare at her.

"What do you want, Lieke?" Lieke shrugs, still amused.

"I can't sleep." She explains.

"I can sing you a lullaby." I offer and Lieke wrinkles her nose.

"No, your singing voice is horrible. I would have nightmares." I laugh sarcastically. "Tell me a story."

"I don't know any stories." Lieke rolls her eyes.

"Tell me about your mom."

"No. That's too sad."

"Not when she died. Before. A happy story." She begs. I give Lieke a tired sigh but she continues her pestering. "Please, it's almost Christmas."

"Fine. Jesus. I'll tell you a Christmas story." I give in. Lieke scoots closer to me, pressing her arm against mine.

"One year my mom wanted me and my sister to be in a Christmas pageant. So, she forced me to sign up for the one at the church near our house. Not only was I not Catholic but I can't act. Like, at all." Lieke laughs.

"I believe you." I glare at her and Lieke grins. "What was the play about?"

"The birth of Jesus. So, everyone who signed up had to be given a part, even if they were bad. Guess what part I got."

"Um, the sheep?" Lieke guesses.

"The snow."

"The snow?" Lieke asks laughing. I nod.

"I didn't have any lines, all I had to do was lay on the stage the whole time." We both laugh quietly. "My mom was so proud of me, though. She took a million pictures and she sent them to all of her friends." Lieke snorts.

"That's sweet."

"Yeah, I guess. My sister got to play the star though."

"Mary?"

"No, the northern star. The one that guided them to Bethlehem." Lieke laughs loudly and I giggle again.

"Do you miss her?" Lieke asks quietly.

"My sister? Yeah." Lieke grabs me hand and squeezes it. "Do you miss your dad?"

"No." We're quiet for a moment. "I miss my grandmother though. She was sweet." She squeezes my hand tighter and I squeeze back.

"Goodnight, Lieke."

"Goodnight, Celine."