We drive in silence, the small cab filled only by the soft sound of Christmas tunes that drift from the radio as we navigate through the deserted streets of our home town. I stare out of the window, mesmerized by the festive decorations that hang from the buildings around us. A soft smile tugs at my lips as I soak them in; it feels impossible that only a year ago, I harboured so much resentment toward them. Now, they are stunning and I can finally see why they are one of the reasons that visitors flock here, keeping our community going.
We pass through the heart of town and emerge out the other side, heading into the darkness. Ryker slows his pace as he follows the barely lit roads that remain empty other than our glow of our own headlights.
It feels like forever before we turn, moving o
