The ship hummed softly, the vibrations a gentle reminder of the engine tirelessly propelling them through the stars. Outside the viewing ports, the galaxy stretched in a kaleidoscope of colors—ribbons of blue, gold, and crimson wove together in breathtaking patterns. Tiny pinpricks of light glimmered in the distance, some so vibrant they seemed to pulse in time with the ship’s thrumming heart. The air inside smelled faintly metallic, tinged with the sterile scent of recycled oxygen.

“Do you think we’ll get snow?” Eli asked, pressing his forehead to the cold viewport. His breath fogged the glass, and he idly traced a starburst with his finger.

“On a spaceship? Sure,” Kayla replied with a smirk. She leaned against the bulkhead, arms crossed, her dark hair catching the glow of the ambient lighting. “Right after Santa parks his sleigh on the docking bay.”

Eli glanced at her, his freckled face lighting up with mock indignation. “You know what I mean. It doesn’t feel like Christmas without snow.”

“It doesn’t feel like Christmas because we’re a billion miles from Earth,” Kayla said, rolling her eyes. But her teasing tone softened as she added, “The decorations help, though.”

The corridor they stood in was lined with garlands made from shimmering foil, reflecting rainbow hues with every flicker of the overhead lights. Holographic snowflakes hovered in the air, rotating lazily, their edges catching the light in dazzling patterns. Somewhere further down the ship, faint strains of carols echoed—though the electronic tones of the synthesizer gave them an otherworldly feel.

Eli turned away from the viewport, his gaze drifting to the decorations. “Yeah, they did a good job. Better than last year.”

Kayla shrugged. “It’s still not the same. Back on Earth, you could smell pine trees, gingerbread, real food cooking. Here, it’s just...” She waved her hand vaguely, as if gesturing to the recycled air, the endless metal walls. “...fake.”

“It’s not all fake,” Eli countered. “The kitchen’s making something special tonight. I heard there’s going to be chocolate pudding.”

Kayla raised an eyebrow. “Pudding is your idea of Christmas spirit?”

He grinned. “Don’t underestimate pudding. Besides, the view makes up for a lot.”

She followed his gaze back to the viewport. The galaxy’s colors shifted as the ship changed its angle, a ripple of emeralds and purples spilling across the glass. It was breathtaking in a way Earth could never match, even with its snow-covered landscapes and twinkling city lights.

“I guess,” Kayla admitted quietly. She didn’t want to give him too much credit—he had a way of turning smug at the smallest victory—but the truth was, the view did help. It was a reminder that Christmas wasn’t just about where you were, but who you were with.

“Hey,” Eli said suddenly, his tone conspiratorial. “Wanna see something cool?”

Kayla narrowed her eyes. “What kind of ‘cool’? Last time you said that, we ended up locked in the maintenance bay for two hours.”

“This is different,” he promised. “Trust me.”

She sighed, but curiosity got the better of her. “Fine. Lead the way, genius.”

He took off down the corridor, and she followed, their footsteps echoing against the metal floor. They passed clusters of crewmembers, some chatting, others busy stringing up more decorations. The scent of something warm and sweet wafted from the direction of the galley—probably the pudding Eli had mentioned.

After a few turns and a climb up a ladder, they reached a small observation deck. It wasn’t one of the ship’s main viewing areas, but Eli had clearly discovered it during one of his exploratory escapades. The space was empty, save for a single console and a wide window that curved around, offering an uninterrupted view of the galaxy.

Kayla gasped. Outside, a nearby nebula glowed with an almost ethereal light, its swirling colors so vivid they seemed to seep into the room itself. Tiny meteoroids streaked past, leaving trails like shooting stars.

“It’s... incredible,” she murmured.

“Told you,” Eli said, clearly pleased with himself. He sat cross-legged on the floor and motioned for her to do the same. “Figured this would be a good place to, y’know, feel Christmas-y.”

She joined him, leaning back against the wall as they both stared out at the endless expanse of space. For a while, neither of them spoke. The silence was filled with the gentle hum of the ship and the distant melody of a carol drifting through the air.

“Do you ever think about how small we are?” Kayla asked after a while. Her voice was quiet, almost lost in the vastness of the moment. “Out here, in all this... it’s like we don’t even matter.”

Eli shook his head. “I think it’s the opposite. Out here, everything we do matters more. We’re part of something bigger—something amazing.” He glanced at her, a soft smile on his face. “Besides, even in space, Christmas still happens. That’s gotta mean something, right?”

Kayla didn’t answer right away. She let the thought settle, wrapping around her like a warm blanket. Finally, she nodded. “Yeah. I guess it does.”

As they sat there, the ship’s intercom crackled to life, announcing the start of the Christmas feast. Kayla stood, holding out a hand to Eli. “C’mon, let’s go get your pudding.”

He laughed, taking her hand as they headed back down. Outside the window, the galaxy shimmered like a million tiny lights, a cosmic Christmas tree just for them.