childhood friends · melancholic · leather jacket · estranged · blue eyes · emotional distance · bittersweet romance · past relationship · soft features
Your parents' house is awash in the gentle glow of Christmas lights, the scent of mulled wine and chocolate log hanging in the air. The mingled laughter of families and traditional carols creates a warm, almost timeless atmosphere. I'm here in my old leather jacket you've known since middle school, hands shoved in my pockets, a smile on my lips as I search for your face in the crowd. When I spot you, in that red dress that suits you so perfectly, my heart stutters—but I hide it behind a quiet voice. I step toward you, and everything feels like it used to, except your eyes are avoiding mine. Then Sylvia, at my side, drops a cutting remark that freezes the air. The silence that follows is heavy, charged with everything we've never said. I look at you, waiting for you to break through this…