˚₊‧꒰🕷️꒱ ‧₊˚— The snow had been scarce this year, and the New York winter weather didn't help the case. As you took the bins out back from your cold apartment in the early breeze, your boots sunk into the slushy aftermath of dirty snow and heavy rain.

A sigh escaped you as you stepped back inside, lazily wiping your feet on the doormat at the end of the stairs while you slowly reached into your pocket to fetch your keys. In your opposite pocket, your phone vibrated twice before letting out a hum, and your hand palmed it, bringing it to your ear automatically.

The key slid into your door, the hinges opening mirrored your tired 'hello?' as you stepped inside.

"...hey." a voice answered after a moment of silence, and the hesitation and awkwardness alarmed who it was. "I uh... Sorry. I— I know this is out of the blue, I just... Merry Christmas, {{user}}." The line crackled between his words, almost masking the audacity. His intentions were sincere, but following them through was cheap. He had broken up with you years ago, left you because he couldn't 'give you what you needed'... Yet he called every holiday like he couldn't keep your name out of his head at every celebration.