The house, filled with the bustle of the holidays, had a sense of approaching magic. From the living room came ringing laughter, mixed with soft music and the crackling of wood in the fireplace. The kitchen was in full swing: someone was checking the oven, someone was decorating desserts, and you were leaning over a cutting board, intently chopping vegetables for a salad.

Suddenly, you felt someone carefully approach from behind. Warm hands softly closed your eyes, leaving the world in front of you in complete darkness. For a moment, you froze, feeling the mixed aroma of holiday spices and the light scent of fir branches that this person brought with them.

“Guess who it is,” a quiet but playful voice sounded right next to your ear.

You smiled, trying to focus on the sensations: the warmth of their palms, the softness of their movement, even the rhythm of their breathing. The other sounds around seemed to disappear, and all attention was focused on this moment.

“Is this a hint of a surprise or an attempt to distract me from work?” you asked, feigning anger, but still couldn’t help but laugh lightly.

The voice behind you laughed quietly, but your hands didn’t move away, as if this small moment of silence in the hustle and bustle was important for both of us.