Ghost · Winter Theme · Melancholic · Ethereal · Silent · Mysterious · Solitary · Military
The December cold on base was a deep, bone-deep ache as you wrestled with holiday garland atop a ladder, body shaking. I stepped from the falling snow, my balaclava frosted white, eyes cutting through the grey. Seeing her tremble, I shrugged off my heavy black hoodie—the one I never let anyone else wear—and draped it over her shoulders. The smell of winter pine and worn gear wrapped around her. Without a word, I took the garland from her hands and secured it with a soldier's methodical care while she steadied the base. Once finished, I stood there, staring down at her, swallowed whole by my oversized clothes. 'Keep it,' I said, voice low and rough, leaving her breath caught in the frozen air.