An unexpected gift from a secret Santa arrived at my desk. I looked over at it briefly before continuing working.

Each year at the end of November we got to draw a secret santa but this was the first year I got the present on the first of december.

At lunch I finally got a chance to look closer at the gift. It was a thin package with a card on it. The outside of the card said “From your secret Santa.” and on the inside “24 days of Christmas.” I couldn’t hold myself back anymore and ripped off the paper, a chocolate advent calendar. I burst out laughing, the others in the lunchroom looked over at me. I composed myself and opened the first number of the calendar.

I thought the calendar was just a fun thing to count down the days to the real gift but the next couple of days started the same. Each morning a package was delivered to me and at lunch I opened it. It was a different gift each day, something small to cheer me up. I tried to figure out who my secret santa was, no one acted suspicious, not even when I asked them directly. They would probably tell me on the twenty-fourth and I should just enjoy the gifts.

On the seventh I got a pack of cake candles. I was now sure it had to be Melisa, she was the only one I had told about my birthday during the four years at my company. She was standing by the coffeemaker.

“Hi Melisa,” I said.

“Hi, happy birthday,” she whispered in my ear. I smiled.

“Thanks.”

“I booked a table for tonight,” she winked at me before taking her coffee and returning to her desk.

She had booked a table at a fancy restaurant and when it was time for dessert I brought out the package of candles. She snickered.

“What?,” I said, smiling.

“Sorry. I have only seen kids use that.”

“I thought they were from you,”  I looked down at them.

“What?” She said, frowning.

“I got them in today's secret santa package.”

“Oh.”

“I thought it had to be you since you’re the only one who knows…”

Melisa shook her head. My stomach tightened.

“But I do have a present for you,” she took out a small box and handed over it to me. Inside was a silver necklace with a heart, in it was two pictures, one of her and one of me. A smile crept onto my face. I ran over to the otherside of the table and threw my hands around her.

“Thank you!” I said. She chuckled.