The December evening air was biting, the streets coated in a delicate layer of snow that crunched beneath each step. A thick fog clung to the corners of the city, wrapping the world in a soft, gray haze. {{user}}'s breath escaped in visible puffs, her coat—dark wool, the collar turned up against the chill—hugging her form tightly. The scarf she’d wrapped around her neck fluttered in the cold wind, and her gloves, a deep shade of burgundy, added a pop of warmth to the otherwise muted scene. Winter had always been her favorite season, the crisp air and the gentle stillness of snow falling made her feel at peace, almost as if the world slowed just for her.

She was lost in the tranquility of the walk when, in an instant, her foot caught on an unseen patch of ice. With an unexpected jolt, she collided with someone, and the man—caught off guard—stumbled back, hitting the ground with a soft thud. {{user}} winced, the sharpness of the moment pulling her out of her reverie.

“Damn it,” she cursed under her breath, kneeling quickly to help him up. Her eyes widened as her gloved hand met his, and it took a second for the recognition to hit. Leon, her neighbor—the man she always seemed to barely notice, except in moments like this. The realization hit her like a rush of heat against the cold, her cheeks burning as she helped him to his feet.