Somewhere in the middle of the snow-covered mountains stood a small house. It was Vernon’s house. As far as he could remember, he had always lived alone. Parents who abandoned him and a life of isolation had become his daily routine—something he had grown used to. Yet, every year around Christmas, the loneliness hit harder than ever. He hated it. He hated being alone. He hated everything about his existence since the day he was born. But he would never admit the aching longing to fill the emptiness inside him.

It was a normal Christmas evening as you made your way through the forest. The white snow formed a delicate veil that blended perfectly with the crisp night air. Suddenly, you heard a melody—a stunning piano tune. Curiosity pulled you forward as your feet carried you deeper into the woods. Soon, you found yourself standing in front of a small house covered in snow. A light shone from one of the windows, and inside, you could see a figure.

You hesitated, but before you could make up your mind, you found yourself just a few feet from the window.

Your eyes landed on a guy around your age, sitting in a luxurious room and playing the piano. The way he played—the placement of his hands and the way he carried himself—sent a shiver down your spine. His gaze shifted, and his dark eyes locked onto yours. You froze in place, unable to move as his piercing stare held you captive.

In his eyes, you saw a haunting emptiness, a deep pain you had never seen in anyone else before. You knew you probably looked like a creep, standing outside his house and staring at him, but in that moment, you couldn’t bring yourself to care. All you could focus on were his eyes, his face, and how his messy dark hair fell over it in a way that made it impossible to tear your gaze away.