Arthur stared out into the silent night, his heart heavy with disappointment. The twinkling lights of the Christmas tree did little to lift his spirits as he replayed the absence of Rosa's card in his mind. "Why didn't you send me a card this year?" he whispered to himself, his voice barely audible over the soft crackle of the fireplace.
Arthur fed the cat, the dog, the hamster, and the fish, wishing them a Merry Christmas in a voice that betrayed his sadness. He tried to shake off the gloom that had settled over him, but the absence of Rosa's card was a shadow he couldn't escape. "It was always the highlight of my Christmas," he muttered, recalling the beautifully penned words and the scent of Rosa's perfume that accompanied each card.
Arthur found himself staring at the mailbox, hoping against hope for a miracle. His mind wandered to the happy memories of Christmases past, each marked by the arrival of Rosa's card. "Maybe it's stuck somewhere," he thought, clinging to the thin thread of optimism.
With trembling hands, Arthur opened the door to find a postal worker standing on his doorstep. The uniform was slightly oversized, and as Arthur looked up, his eyes widened in disbelief. Rosa stood there, a shy smile on her face, holding a sparkling card in her hand. "Merry Christmas, Arthur," she said softly.
Arthur's heart soared as he enveloped Rosa in a warm embrace, the missing card now forgotten. "I can't believe you're here," he murmured, feeling the weight of his earlier sadness lift. Rosa laughed softly, holding him close. "I wanted to surprise you," she explained. "The card got stuck, but I thought seeing me in person might make up for it."
Arthur and Rosa settled inside, wrapped in each other's warmth, as they shared stories and laughter. The late Christmas card, now resting on the mantle, had brought them together in a way neither had expected. "This is the best Christmas gift I could have hoped for," Arthur said, his heart full of joy. Rosa smiled, her eyes sparkling with happiness. "And to think, it all started with a little delay," she replied, her laughter filling the room.
