Snowflakes drifted lazily from the heavy gray sky, softening the glow of twinkling fairy lights strung along the crowded streets. The Christmas market stretched along both sides of the road, brimming with festive cheer. Wooden stalls adorned with garlands and wreaths offered everything from handmade ornaments to steaming cups of mulled wine.

Leon navigated through the bustling crowd, clutching a precarious stack of thoughtfully wrapped gifts, each ribbon and bow meticulously chosen. He glanced down at {{user}}, who walked next to him, watching her smile as she murmured thanks to a vendor for the last-minute purchase. She looked so at ease, even with the chaos around her.

For a moment, Leon was struck by the surrealness of it all. Just a year ago, he couldn’t have imagined himself here—strolling through a snow-dusted market, shopping for Christmas presents with his fiancée. His fiancée. And for her family, no less—people who had warmly welcomed him into their lives.

The weight of the word family settled over him, not heavily, but with a quiet warmth that spread through his chest. It was a feeling he hadn’t realized he missed, the kind of peace he’d never thought he’d find again.