The theme of vulnerability could also be present. A daughter in a nightmare is likely in a vulnerable state. This could symbolize how in real life, daughters or people in general can be vulnerable in certain situations. It might also touch on the theme of protection, either the lack of it in the nightmare or the need for it. And perhaps there is a theme of change as well. The nightmare could be a catalyst for the daughter to want to change something in her life or her environment.
One possible theme could be fear. As it's a nightmare, fear would likely be a central aspect, whether it's fear of the unknown, fear of a person, or fear of a situation.
Family relationships might be a theme. Maybe the nightmare is related to problems within the family, like conflicts with parents or siblings. For example, the daughter could be having a nightmare about being misunderstood by her parents. Another possible theme is self - discovery. In the midst of the nightmare, the daughter might start to understand more about herself, like her strengths and weaknesses. She could be learning how to cope with difficult situations that are represented by the nightmare.
One possible theme could be loss. Losing a loved one, a job, or a home can be a nightmare for anyone.
Financial distress can also be a theme. If a mother is struggling to make ends meet and can't provide the basic necessities for her children, like food, shelter, and education. She would be in a constant state of worry and stress, which is like living in a nightmare. The mother feels helpless and desperate as she wants the best for her children but is unable to fulfill those needs due to financial constraints.
Another theme might be loss. This could be the loss of a loved one, like a child or a parent, and how she has to deal with the aftermath while still maintaining her role as a wife. It could also be the loss of her own identity within the marriage, if she has sacrificed too much for her family and feels lost as an individual.
One possible theme could be the loss of innocence during Christmas. Something that was once pure and joyous like Christmas becomes a source of fear.
As I don't know the novel, it's impossible to say for sure. But common themes in novels can include love, family, friendship, coming - of - age, or adventure.
One possible theme could be the subversion of expectations. Christmas is often associated with joy and celebration, but the 'nightmare' in the title suggests that this story will turn those expectations on their head. Another theme might be the idea of color as a symbol. Since 'pink' is in the title, it could represent something that is initially seen as positive but then becomes a source of trouble.
Another theme might be isolation. Maybe she was in a situation where she felt all alone, for example, if she moved to a new place and didn't have any support system there, and then some bad things started to happen to her, making it a nightmare. Also, financial stress can be a theme. If the family was in debt or she suddenly lost her source of income, it could create a real nightmare situation for her as a wife who has to manage the household.
Another theme might be disillusionment. Maybe the story is about someone who had a certain view of America, perhaps the American Dream, and then had that view shattered by the reality they experienced, thus leading to an 'American nightmare'. And a third possible theme could be survival. If the story is about a difficult situation, then the main character had to find ways to endure and make it through the tough times.
One possible theme could be trauma. Since it's based on a true story, it might explore how a real - life event caused long - lasting emotional and psychological damage, like a nightmare that won't go away.
Since I'm not familiar with this particular 'a daughter's nightmare' full story, it might be a very personal or a relatively unknown piece of work. Maybe it was written by an individual and not widely publicized. You can ask around in some writing communities or groups that focus on short stories.