As the night slowly winds down, the warmth from the fire and the laughter from our family lingers in the air. Lily is sound asleep, and most of the cousins have retreated to their rooms, leaving the house in a calm, comforting quiet. I stretch out my arms and feel the exhaustion from the day settle into my bones. Christmas Eve with my family has always been chaotic, but there’s something about tonight that feels different, lighter, warmer.
Ryan wraps his arm around my shoulders as we head upstairs to our room, our feet softly padding against the wooden steps. The scent of pine and the flickering lights of the Christmas tree follow us as we walk through the hallway. It’s been a long day, filled with family, laughter, and a few too many rounds of charades, but it was perfect. Absolutely per
