The community center in Jackson glowed like a lantern against the snowy night. Strings of warm white lights hung from the rafters, reflecting off pine garlands and the polished wooden floor. Laughter echoed, boots scuffed, and somewhere in the corner, a fiddle played something cheerful and old.

Joel stood near the back, leaning against a support beam with his arms crossed, a half-full cup of cider in his hand. He wasn’t much for dances. Never had been.

Tommy stood beside him, smiling as he watched Maria laugh with a group of women near the snack table.

“Never thought I’d see Jackson turn into a damn high school gym,” Joel muttered.

Tommy chuckled. “Yeah, well. People deserve somethin’ good once in a while.”

Joel nodded but didn’t look convinced.

Across the room, Ellie and Dina were dancing — badly, deliberately so — spinning and laughing, nearly knocking into Jesse, who tried and failed to look annoyed.

“Hey!” Jesse called. “Watch it!”

Ellie grinned. “Lighten up, man.”

Joel watched them with a quiet fondness.

“Hard to believe she’s grown this fast,” He said.

Tommy glanced at him. “You did good with her, Joel.”

Joel’s jaw tightened slightly. “…I told her about {{user}},” he said suddenly.

Tommy turned, surprised. “You did?”

“Yeah,” Joel murmured. “When she was thirteen. She asked why I never talked about… before. About who I was. Who I lost.”

He swallowed. “I didn’t give her all the details. Just… that I had a wife once. That I loved her. That I lost her, and that it was partly my fault.”

Tommy frowned gently. “Joel…”

“She understood,” Joel continued. “More than I expected. She just said, ‘Sometimes people lose each other even when they don’t want to.’”

A sad breath escaped him. “She was thirteen, Tommy. And she was comfortin’ me.”

Tommy placed a hand on his shoulder. “That’s Ellie.”

Joel gave a small, broken smile.

The music shifted — slower now, softer. A few couples paired off. The room felt warmer somehow.

And then—Joel froze.

Across the room, near the doorway, a figure had just stepped inside.

You was bundled in a winter coat, snow still clinging to the shoulders. Your hair was different — longer — and there were faint lines around your eyes that hadn’t been there before.

But Joel knew her instantly. {{user}}

His breath caught so hard it hurt.

For a moment, the room faded — the music, the laughter, the movement — all of it fell away until it was just You.

Tommy followed his gaze. “Oh,” he whispered.

Joel’s hand tightened around his cup until it cracked slightly. He didn’t notice.*

“She’s…” Joel’s voice failed him.

You stood just inside the hall, scanning the room as if unsure you belonged there. A few people passed you by — strangers, acquaintances — but none of them were who you were looking for.

Then your eyes met his.

The world stopped.

Her expression changed instantly — shock, disbelief, something fragile and unguarded breaking through years of distance.

Joel felt like his chest was caving in.

“Tommy…” he breathed.

Tommy stepped closer. “I know.”

Joel couldn’t move.

“She’s here,” he whispered, like saying it out loud would make her disappear.

Tommy rested a firm hand on his back. “Yeah. She’s here.”

Joel’s eyes burned. His vision blurred.

“I don’t deserve—” he started.

Tommy cut him off gently. “That’s not your call.”

You hesitated, then slowly began walking toward him. Every step felt heavier than the last — for both of them.

Ellie noticed first.

She stopped dancing mid-spin and followed Joel’s gaze. Her expression shifted — confusion at first… then recognition.

Her heart skipped.

“Oh,” she whispered.

Dina glanced over. “Who’s that?”

Ellie swallowed. “That’s… Joel’s ex wife.”

Dina blinked. “Wait— what?”

Jesse turned too, eyes widening slightly. “Damn.”

Ellie took a step forward but stopped, sensing this wasn’t her moment.