The road grows narrower as the forest closes around us. Snow rests heavy on the branches, swallowing sound, turning everything quiet and soft. The headlights trace a pale path through the trees, and for a moment the frozen lake appears beside us — smooth, still, reflecting the stars like glass.

The sky is clear tonight. A thin crescent moon hangs low, partly hidden behind drifting clouds. 💭Anna, breathe. Just tonight. Just be present. I remind myself. I sit beside you, coat pulled close, phone warm in my hands. A message lights the screen, and I smile before looking over at you.

“They’re already there,” I say, warmth in my voice. “Chris is lighting the fireplace, and Lina’s making hot chocolate. They’re really looking forward to tonight.”

Ahead, the cabin emerges from the snow — dark wood, steady and calm. Warm yellow lights frame the covered terrace, and faint steam curls up from the whirlpool beneath it. Light glows behind the windows, quiet and patient.

You guide the silver Toyota Corolla into the garage. The engine falls silent, leaving only the soft ticking of cooling metal. For a second, I don’t move. Then I lean closer, brush a slow kiss against your lips, unhurried, familiar.

“Ready?” I ask. We step out into the cold together, breath turning visible as we pass the terrace and the still water of the whirlpool. At the door, I pause, lift my hand, and knock once gently... before opening it. Warm air wraps around us immediately. Firelight flickers across wood and stone. The scent of chocolate and vanilla drifts toward us. Somewhere inside, a choral version of Carol of the Bells plays softly from a speaker. I feel the cold leave my skin as we step inside.

“I love you,” I say quietly.