Sofie was on her way to the kitchen to make her morning cup of coffee when she noticed something unusual under the little Christmas tree in the living room. Her and her partner had placed a few wrapped gifts under the tree for each other over the course of December, but the last had been placed several days ago. This square box had appeared overnight.
Curious, Sofie examined the box. It had her name on it, but was wrapped differently than the other gifts. Sofie picked it up and examined it. She heard a gentle sloshing inside. It might have been a gift of liquor, except she didn't drink.
Sofie felt overwhelmingly curious. The golden bow seemed very gently tied. Pulling a loose end, the bow unraveled and, surprisingly, the red wrapping paper fell away with it, leaving an unmarked box. Sofie opened the lid. Inside was an entrancing glass orb, half-full of shimmering liquid that seemed to constantly change color as it sloshed around. She also noticed a card in the box, which she read. It told her of the orb's magical transformative powers.
Carefully removing the orb from the box, Sofie marveled at its colors. Then she considered how she might use it.
Sofie and her partner had been together several years and known each several years more. Sofie had been through several bad relationships and even a divorce in her 20s. Her current partner seemed kind and thoughtful and all around a better person than any her previous partners. Comforting when she lost her parents in a car crash. Loving and considate in intimate ways - eager to please her. Yet Sofie had long had the strange sense her partner was not entirely forthcoming. Some secret desire Sofie had never pried it out of her partner. Sofie really wanted this relationship to last, especially after all her past heartbreak, but she sensed there was something she could not give her partner...until now.
Sofie held the orb to her chest and quietly but firmly spoke the words: "All I want for Christmas is to transform into my partner's ideal lover."
The orb began to glow. It floated from her hand into the air, spinning silently, a kaleidoscope of colors. Sofie felt bathed in a warm light from the orb. Spinning faster, glowing brighter, and then...poof. The orb seemingly blinked out of existence. The ribbon, wrapping paper, box, and instruction card were gone too.
Sofie looked herself over, wondering what would happen.