Der Kamin knackt leise. Draußen fällt dichter Schnee, der Wald ist nur noch eine dunkle Wand aus Weiß und Schwarz. Drinnen ist es warm. Zu warm vielleicht. Der Tisch ist voll: Essen, leere und halbvolle Gläser, Krümel von irgendetwas, das eigentlich selbstgemacht sein sollte. Lichterketten werfen flackernde Schatten an die Holzwände. Jennifer sitzt auf der Couch, ein Glas in der Hand, und lacht über etwas, das Thomas gerade erzählt hat. Tanja lehnt am Tisch, beobachtet die anderen, sagt wenig, aber lächelt. Nick hat sich einen Stuhl näher an den Kamin gezogen und hebt sein Glas. „Auf Weihnachten. Und darauf, dass wir’s endlich mal wieder geschafft haben.“ Alle schauen kurz zu dir. Für einen Moment fühlt es sich richtig an. Wie früher. Als wäre alles, was dieses Jahr passiert ist, weit weg. Dann hörst du es. Ein dumpfes Geräusch von draußen. Vielleicht ein Ast. Vielleicht der Wind. Niemand reagiert sofort. Nick grinst schief. „Alter, wenn das jetzt ein Serienkiller ist, dann geh ich wieder nach Hause.“ Gelächter. Das Geräusch kommt nicht noch einmal. Der Schnee fällt weiter. Und irgendwo zwischen dem Knistern des Feuers und dem Lachen merkst du: Der Wald da draußen ist verdammt still. Was tust du?

}!* ** **

*You waited at school since the busses got canceled for your sister to come pick you up, a few minutes later she came pretty early.* **Airi:** "Alright, come on lets get home quick. It's cold." *She grabs your hand, her grip tight as she walks you home. Once you guys reach the apartment she realizes she can't find her keys then starts to stress out.* "f~ck, where did the keys go... Did I drop them on the way here..." *She continues looking then sees you just standing there.* "Don't just stand there! Atleast help me look for my keys!" *She goes outside to check for them, muttering something under her breath.* "Retarted sibling..." *Suddenly, the keys drop out of her back pocket but she doesn't notice, will you be nice and tell her you found the key? Or will you get revenge on her cussing at you and hide it.*

The "Glacial Gala" tent is a cathedral of cold, filled with the scent of frost and the sound of chisels singing against ice. My piece, "Solitude's Echo," is nearly complete. A perfect, intricate, hollow sphere within a sphere. Critics will call it a commentary on isolation. They’ll be right. It’s technically flawless. And it feels as empty as I do. Then, you walk in. You’re not with the press or the other artists. You’re just… exploring. You stop in front of a competitor’s cheesy ice swan, tilting your head with genuine appreciation. You don’t see the clumsy lines; you see the effort. When you finally reach my station, you go utterly still. You don’t say anything. You just look. You look at my sculpture for a full minute, your breath making little clouds in the air, and then your eyes find mine. In them, I don’t see critique or awe. I see a profound, gentle understanding. As if you can see the hollow sphere in my chest, too. “It’s the most beautiful, lonely thing I’ve ever seen,” you say, your voice soft but clear over the ambient noise. It feels like a chisel strikes directly into my ribs. No one has ever seen it so clearly. “It’s missing something,” I hear myself say, the words leaving me before I can stop them. “What?” “I don’t know yet.” The competition rules are strict: no assistance. But inspiration isn’t against the rules. You become my muse. You return every day, always with a hot coffee you hand me wordlessly, your own hands wrapped around a cup. You don’t offer suggestions. You just are. You talk about the winter light, about the smell of snow, about your childhood memories of building forts. And as you speak, I begin to carve. Not on my competition piece. On a small, secret block off to the side. The night before the final judging, I’m alone in the tent under the work lights. My competition piece is ready, a monument to cold perfection. But my heart is hammering. I send you a single text: "Come. Now." When you arrive, wrapped in a scarf, your cheeks flushed from the cold, I don’t speak. I simply take your hand—my own finally warm from work—and lead you to the hidden corner. I pull away the drape. It’s you. Not a literal portrait, but an essence. The flow of your hair in the wind, the curve of your smile, the graceful line of your neck. I’ve carved you in a pose of joyful abandon, arms slightly outstretched as if catching snowflakes. It’s not flawless like the sphere. It’s alive. It’s full of light and movement and warmth, despite being made of ice. You bring a trembling hand to your mouth, tears welling instantly. “Julian… you…” “The competition piece is empty,” I say, my voice rough. I step closer, the cold of our creations swirling around us, but all I feel is heat. “Because I was empty. And then you walked in, and you… you thawed me.” I reach out, my thumb catching a tear as it falls. “I don’t care about the grant. I don’t care about winning. I carved this for you. Because you are the only permanent, beautiful thing I have ever wanted to hold onto. Everything else can melt.” You look from the sculpture of yourself, back to me, your eyes shining. “What are you saying?” “I’m saying I forfeit.” The words are a liberation. “I’m saying my greatest masterpiece won’t be in some gallery. It’ll be the life I build with you.” I cradle your face in my hands, my sculptor’s fingers infinitely gentle. “Let me be your artist. Let me spend a lifetime learning every curve and line of your happiness, and crafting my world around it.” You don’t answer with words. You rise onto your toes and kiss me. In a tent of ice, it’s a blaze of summer. It tastes of hope, of coffee, of a future I never dared to design. When we break apart, you press your forehead to mine. “Don’t forfeit,” you whisper, a fierce, loving command. “Win. For us. And then let’s build that life together.” And in that moment, holding you amidst the glistening ice, I know I already have.

}, someone he hardly knew, showed up and emotionally strong-armed him into a three-hour road trip to spend Christmas at their parent’s house. Since then he’d been forced to participate in Christmas baking, tree decorating, and gingerbread house building, subjected to holiday movies and joyful off-key singing, all while enduring food that tasted suspiciously like it might have been made with love and obnoxiously comfortable bedding. He knew this was no place for a prickly delinquent like him. And yet, here he was, wearing a Santa hat and celebrating Christmas like he was stuck in some ridiculous Hallmark movie.

*It’s Christmas Eve, the kind of night that feels still and heavy, snow crunching faintly under your feet as you open the door to a soft, uneven knock that sounds more nervous than intentional. Marie Parkerson stands there on your porch, wrapped in a thin coat that’s clearly been worn too many winters, her shoulders hunched as the cold bites through it, hands hidden inside her sleeves like she’s trying to make herself smaller. For a second she just looks at you, eyes wide and glassy, then she swallows and rushes out,* “I—I’m really sorry to come so late, I know it’s Christmas Eve and you’re probably busy, I wouldn’t be here if I had anywhere else to go,” *her voice shaky but polite, every word careful. She shifts her weight, glancing back toward the dark street before continuing,* “I haven’t eaten much today, and the motel said… they said if I don’t have the money by morning I’ll have to leave, and I tried everywhere I could think of but I just—” *She cuts herself off, embarrassed, pressing her lips together before forcing a small smile.* “I don’t need anything big, I promise. Just something warm, even just for a little while. I can sit on the floor if you want, I won’t take up space,” *she adds quickly, as if already bracing for rejection. The cold wind tugs at her hair and she shivers, but she still manages a soft, earnest,* “Thank you for even opening the door. Really. Even if you can’t help, I’m grateful you listened,” *her eyes finally lifting to yours, hopeful and scared all at once as she waits on the porch, words hanging in the frosty air, the question unspoken but painfully clear.*

*You and Kirishima were walking downtown through an open-air mall in Tokyo. It was snowing lightly all around, and you were gazing at the Christmas lights overhead as you two walked.* *Kirishima on the other hand, kept talking excitedly about all the shops you both walked by.* *He spots a cozy little cafe.* “…they even have chocolate?!” *He walked up to the window of one of the shops, motioning for you to come.* “I want some…” *he looks over at you.* “Bet they’ve got some hot chocolate as well!” *He notices you’re still looking at the decorations. He reaches out and pokes your cheek,* “Hey.” *He grins and laughs softly when you look over at him with a surprised expression.* “How you feel about hot chocolate? You look cold.”

❄ ❄ ❄ #Christmas2025 Oh, how the snowflakes dance and swirl in the quiet night, their delicate flakes shimmering in the glow of the streetlights. The air is crisp, the kind that stings your nose but feels alive with the magic of Christmas. If I listen closely, I can almost hear the jingling of sleigh bells, echoing in the distance, but tonight… tonight, the bells feel so far away.I wander through the streets, my feet crunching softly in the snow, my glowing nose lighting the way--though, it’s just me tonight. The houses are adorned with colorful lights, reds and greens, twinkling like stars in the darkness. Wreaths hang on doors, stockings are hung by chimneys, and the warm glow of candlelight spills from windows. I can almost imagine the laughter, the joy of families gathered inside, cozy and together, celebrating the magic of the season.I stop for a moment, standing beneath a grand tree, its lights casting a soft glow on the snow-covered ground. The decorations are beautiful, and the air is filled with the smell of pine and sweet treats. I can't help but wonder what it would be like to have a family of my own--hell, I'd like to share this quiet, snowy night with anyone--To laugh and tell stories, to feel the warmth of love in the midst of winter's chill. But it’s just me. But alas... I’ve always been alone.

}'s luggage before leaving coldy. His past had come back to slap him in the face, and he wasn't falling for it. not when he had four miles of army base to take care of, not when the colder months were sneaking up on him. the only thing that broke his daze was the small flurry that was rolling in. he shook his head and began walking, though his direction was unclear even to him.*

}, I am visiting you again soon. Merry Christmas till then, baby.*