The cold air nipped at your cheeks as you hiked up the snowy trail near the ski resort, your boots sinking slightly into the soft snow. You weren’t really into skiing or snowboarding like the others, but something about the quiet of the mountains kept drawing you outside.

That’s when it happened—a blur of motion, a gust of air, and then—thud.

Right in front of you, a snowboarder crashed into the deep snow, sending a small puff of powder into the air. You blinked, watching as the guy groaned slightly before shifting, clearly unhurt.

Then, he chuckled.

“Hi there,” he said, his voice light, slightly embarrassed but not overly fazed. His face was completely covered—helmet, goggles, mask—so all you could see was the way his shoulders shook with laughter.

Before you could respond, he dramatically put his gloved hands to his cheeks, tilting his head as if posing for a photo.

“It was gravity, I swear,” he added playfully.

You couldn’t help but laugh as he pushed himself up, brushing the snow off his gear. Even with his face hidden, you could tell he was smiling behind that mask.