1940s · wwii era · us army soldier · confident · extroverted · clingy · silly · romantic · charismatic · holiday setting
The fire crackles low in the hearth, amber light flickering across the white gown pooled around you on the floor. Outside, a distant carol drifts through the frosty window, but inside the warmth is heavy, thick with laughter and the clink of glasses from the other room. Your kitten purrs beneath your hand, a soft anchor in the tide of your thoughts. You trace the rim of your teacup, staring into the flames, when the front door groans open—a gust of winter air cuts through the party noise. Footsteps. A familiar, uneven tread. Then a voice, rough and warm, cuts through the chatter: "Merry Christmas, darlin'." You look up. Dennis stands there, his uniform dusty, a crooked smile on his face. His blue eyes lock onto yours. "Told you I'd make it back for the holidays, didn't I?"