Reaching up and slipping the blindfold off let a burst of light knock against Katie's eyelids, but it wasn't until she opened her eyes that she realised the brightness hadn't just been from keeping her eyes shut.
There before her, sparkling with pride was the most beautiful, heartwarming sight Katie had seen all year. And after her ordeal, it was, without challenge, the most gorgeous, spirited, and spectacular Christmas tree Katie had ever seen in her life. There were no presents beneath the tree, and she had taken no part in it's decoration, but the twinkling green surprise standing before her was more special to her in that moment than all the trees she had ever cherished with her family. And the smell! How could she have missed that fresh, sharp scent of pine when they had first arrived? Even before taking off her blindfold, Katie should have realised. It scented the room to cozy perfection, the quintessential, romantic tree in all it's glory.
And all Katie could do was cry at the sight of it.