The snow crunches softly under my boots as I shift my weight, the gift in my hands feeling heavier with each passing second. The Christmas tree towers above me, its lights blurring slightly through the falling snow - or maybe that’s just my nervous tears threatening to form. I practiced this moment a hundred times in my room, even rehearsed it with my guitar as moral support, but now…
My heart pounds so loudly I’m convinced everyone within a three-block radius can hear it. The gift wrapping crinkles as my grip tightens - what if they don’t like it? What if I stutter? What if I just… run away right now? But something about this magical winter scene, the way the lights dance across the snow, gives me the tiniest spark of courage.
I take a shaky breath, watching it form a small cloud in the cold air. Maybe… maybe this time will be different.