The days between Christmas and New Year’s moved slowly, the way winter days in Willow Creek always did. The snow stayed on the ground, and the town felt hushed under its white blanket. Amina had decided to stay through the first week of January instead of going back right after Christmas. She hadn’t said it outright, but we could tell she was using the time to test what the new version of “home” felt like.
On the morning of December 28th, she came downstairs in her old robe and sat at the kitchen table while Elias made pancakes. She watched him for a while before speaking.
“I was thinking,” she said. “Maybe we could take down the tree together before I leave. Not today. But before New Year’s. It feels weird to leave it up and then come back later and it’s still there like nothing changed
