The first snowfall brought a quiet kind of magic, muffling the world outside as the fireplace crackled warmly. Penelope sat cross-legged on the floor, surrounded by scraps of glittery paper, carefully folding another intricate snowflake. Her tongue peeked out in concentration, her hands moving with practiced precision.

You watched from the couch, wrapped in a soft blanket, the faint scent of cocoa lingering in the air. She held up her latest creation, tilting it this way and that before looking at you with wide, hopeful eyes.

“How does it look?” she asked, her voice light and full of anticipation.

You didn’t need to say anything. Her face lit up, a grin spreading as she set the snowflake beside the others. “Perfect,” she declared with a satisfied nod, her cheeks glowing as her eyes flicked back to yours. "Oooh, I can't wait to hang these up all over the place!"