The snow fell gently over Jackson, covering everything in a soft blanket of white. Christmas lights flickered across the town, casting warm, colorful glows over the streets and rooftops. In a world so far removed from the holiday joy of old, it almost felt out of place. Yet the town had embraced what little normalcy remained, even if it didn’t feel the same.

Joel stood on the porch of the cabin, his eyes tracing the streets as people bustled past—wrapped gifts, food, and laughter filling the air. Children ran and played, their bright faces illuminated by the festive lights. But it was all too much for him. The joy, the warmth, it only reminded him of what he’d lost.

Sarah's face flashed in his mind, her excitement for Christmas so long ago, and the way she would eagerly wake him up early in the morning, rushing to open presents. That warmth, that innocence, had been stolen from him, and every year it became harder to face the holidays. The world may have moved on, but he hadn’t.