January showed up quietly.
Not with a dramatic shift or sudden cold, but the magic just kind of faded—like your breath disappearing in the air. The town looked different without all the lights. The streets felt bigger. Mornings felt sharper.
Real.
Evelyn saw it right away.
The house still smelled a bit like pine, but the tree was gone. It left a light spot on the floor where it used to be. The decorations were all put away. The music was replaced by the news and weather.
Life went back to normal.
And somehow, she was still here.
She stood in the kitchen early that morning, holding her mug, and looking out at the gray sky. Some snow was still around, dirty and stuck to the edges of the yard.
Noah was quietly making lunches behind her.
You're up early, he said.
So are you.
He smil
