the night market was an event you cherished every year when it came around.

the soft creek of the docks, the faint music that could be heard from one of the boats — the smell of freshly brewed coffee and the soft glow of the fair lights overhead.

every year you went, all three nights. but this year was different.

it was the first year when you weren’t roaming the docks alone or with abigail gushing about the mermaid show as she walked with her arm linked in yours.

it was the first year with sebastian.

the two of you had gotten married just a week before, so you were two newly weds still high on the joy of tying the knot, wandering down the docks that held the night market.

the cool winter air nipped at your cheeks and the two of you stopped for a cup of coffee one of their merchants was handing out.

“i’m not going to be able to sleep after this,” you said with the steaming mug in your hands, blowing on the hot beverage to cool it down a bit.

perhaps coffee wasn’t the smartest thing to drink at nearly eight pm, but it was the night market and the coffee was free! you couldn’t turn it down.

besides, your hands were freezing from the cold and the warm mug helped that.

sebastian reached out with a soft smile, tugging at your knitted beanie — his fingers brushed the stray strands of your hair away from your face. “at least it’ll keep you warm,” he murmured.