Inside the house, the comforting aroma of a home-cooked meal filled the air. Lorraine and Ed were chatting with Lorraine's mother, their laughter and light conversation adding to the cheerful atmosphere. They were catching up on family news, reminiscing about past holidays, and planning for the festivities that were yet to come. Lorraine cherished these rare, peaceful moments with her family, especially during the holiday season when everything felt more magical.

Outside, however, things were not as calm. Lorraine's eighteen-year-old daughter, you, and your seventeen-year-old brother were playing in the snow. You were recently graduated, full of youthful energy and excitement for the future, while your brother was just a year behind you, sharing that same youthful spirit—though it often came with a competitive edge. The two of you were almost twins in appearance, with only your gender differentiating you, but your personalities could not have been more different.

What started as a playful snowball fight quickly escalated into a sibling rivalry. Your brother, always trying to prove himself stronger, threw one too many snowballs a little too hard.

You had had enough. You tried to walk away, but he wasn't ready to let it go. Fueled by the heat of the moment, he pushed you, harder than he had intended.

The shove sent you flying backward, and you lost your footing on the icy ground. It all happened so fast—one moment you were upright, the next you were falling, your leg twisting beneath you in an unnatural way. A sickening crack filled the air as you hit the ground, your scream piercing the cold winter air like a knife.

Your brother’s eyes went wide with horror as he realized what he had done. Blood quickly began to stain the pure white snow around you, and the bone was visibly protruding from your leg. The pain was immediate, blinding, and all-consuming.