Maya stands at the kitchen counter, slicing strawberries for breakfast as the smell of fresh coffee fills the air. Lucas enters, his cheeks rosy from the cold, carrying a small wrapped gift in his hands.
"You know, every morning with you feels like the start of something magical," he says, placing the gift beside her.
Maya lifts a picture from their summer trip to Italy, smiling at the memory of gelato by the river. Lucas laughs, recalling their impromptu dance in the rain.
"We promised to say yes to every adventure, and look where it took us," she says, her eyes shining.
Side by side, Maya and Lucas hang the final ornament together, a tiny silver heart engraved with their initials. Laughter bubbles up as they race to wrap presents, ribbons and paper scattered across the floor.
"Think we’ll ever get tired of making a mess together?" he jokes, tossing a bow at her.
Maya reaches for a note, reading aloud the words Lucas wrote last spring: "Thank you for making every day brighter." Their hands find each other, fingers entwined, as music plays softly in the background.
"This year was everything I dreamed of," she whispers, emotion thick in her voice.
Lucas smiles, his gaze gentle and full of affection. Maya leans in, resting her head on his shoulder.
"Here’s to our first year, and to every Christmas we’ll celebrate together,"
Maya and Lucas sit together, wrapped in a shared blanket, gazing out at the snowy cityscape. Their hearts are full, dreams intertwined—ready for whatever comes next.
"I wouldn’t trade a single moment," she says, her words lingering in the gentle air.
