https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/2025/12/songs-christmas-nostalgia/685428
The table was set, each meal was cooking and the family were surrounded by gifts. They always made sure to buy at least one material present for each other. So the tree didn’t look bare. They obviously couldn’t afford a “real” tree, even if they’d agreed with buying from The Company, but their simulation held memories. The room’s audio streams were perfect as always. Each playlist tuned to the family’s own personal memories. The screens were ready. His guilty pleasure that no-one else needs suffer: Love Actually, his Christmas film. She waited for the room to play her Die Hard.