2. Snow Globe
Stevie continued to stare out the window as her memories continue to fill her head. A gentle hand startled her out of her daze, almost spilling her drink. “Thinking about her again?” Holli’s soft voice asked. Stevie relaxed her tensed shoulders and stared blankly into her mug. “Yes,” Stevie said with a sigh. Holli gave Stevie’s shoulder a squeeze before retreating back into a different room. She re-emerges into the room with a small gift box. Stevie looked back and forth from the box to Holli with a confused look. “Its an early Christmas present.” Holli say. Stevie hesitated, her fingers trembling slightly as she took the small gift box from Holli’s hands. The soft sound of the crackling fireplace and the faint scent of cinnamon filled the room, but Stevie’s thoughts remained far away, lost in the past. She turned the box over, feeling its weight, and glanced up at Holli, who gave her an encouraging nod.
With a deep breath, Stevie unwrapped the festive paper, revealing a delicate, old-fashioned snow globe beneath. The glass dome shimmered in the soft light of the room, and inside was a scene that took Stevie’s breath away: a forest blanketed in snow, eerily reminiscent of the one where she would escape to be alone.
Her fingers tightened around the base of the snow globe as a lump formed in her throat. “Where did you find this?” Stevie whispered, her voice barely audible.
Holli gave a soft smile, her eyes warm with understanding. “I came across it in that antique shop downtown,” she explained. “It simply screamed, STEVIE, when I saw it!”
Stevie turned the globe slowly, watching as a swirl of glittering snowflakes filled the tiny forest. It was like being transported back in time to those dark nights sitting on top of tree branches staring out at the moonlight sky. When times got tough, this was her safe haven.
Stevie clutches the snow globe to her chest. Tears slightly forming behind her eyes over the sweet gift from her friend. “If this is a pre-gift, then I’m expecting something extra extraordinary on Christmas itself.” Stevie said as they both laughed.
