The morning sun struggled to pierce the heavy winter clouds, casting a muted gray light across the city. Snow still covered the streets, leaving the city quiet, pristine, and strangely intimate. Emma woke to the sound of muffled footsteps on the sidewalk outside her window. She opened her eyes to see Liam leaning against the glass, scarf wrapped loosely around his neck, hair tousled, a smile that made her heart ache spread across his face.
“Good morning,” he said softly, pushing the window open just enough for his voice to slip inside.
“Good morning,” she replied, sitting up, hair messy from sleep, cheeks flushed. “You’re… early.”
He shrugged, eyes sparkling. “I didn’t want to waste a single moment. There’s snow, Emma. Snow waits for no one.”
She laughed, a little breathless, a little
