The living room glows under the Christmas tree. Lights blink soft and steady in the quiet evening.
ALINE tiptoes in. She spots the rainbow paint box under the tree and bends down to look.
She grabs a brush, dips it in blue, and paints a stripe across the old gold ornament.
Another stripe in red. Another in yellow. She can't stop.
She paints the stockings, the garland, the candle holders. Humming loudly as she goes.
She steps back and grins. Her nose is covered in paint. The whole room is rainbow.
The family walks in. Dad's mouth opens. Mom drops her cookie.
Then they all start laughing. Mom crouches down. 'This is the best decoration we've ever had,' she says, squeezing ALINE's paint-covered hand.
ALINE wraps her arms around Mom and Dad, leaving rainbow handprints on their sweaters.
The tree glows warm against all the color. The house feels louder and happier than ever.
The young girl presses her face into her mom's sweater. She can't stop smiling.
Everything is rainbow. Everything is perfect.