Snow was pouring down. The colorful lights on the street were making people happy even when they just look, and the sound of joy could be heard from houses. The most eye-catching house on the street was the brick house with little new year decorations and colorful neon lights in its front yard. The house had a burgundy color and a garage on the left. Inside that big cozy house, Este and her cousins were watching their favorite movies on the TV, while sipping hot chocolate and nibbling their snacks. They were excited like all the other people in the world, counting the minutes to celebrate the new year.
Then, the breaths were held, and the counting was started. “10, 9, 8…” They started counting backward. It was only seconds before the new year. And, just then the doorbell rang, but they pretended they didn’t hear it, they were busy celebrating the new year. Even though the celebration was finished, the doorbell kept ringing and when Conan -one of Este’s cousins- opened the door, none of them saw someone except an envelope on the floor.
They began to look at the envelope, it was beige and had “To Dear Este” written on it. They started reading. “Do you remember the place we always used to go near the bars street, downtown? We always used to sit under the stars, with the bright street lights on the side. The ivy has grown so much since the last time. Would you want to meet one more time? “
Time was frozen, Este was back to December, 2 years ago. Her best friend, James had suddenly disappeared after their big fight, Este cried so much, and tried to reach him but couldn’t find him anywhere. She knows it was her fault to blame him for things he didn’t do and had always regretted that fight since he left.
She arrived at their place, the benches near the bars street, nothing had changed since the last time she went there before James left. But the ivy on the brick wall had grown so much as he said.
His voice was heard as she looked around in the snow. Este turned around, and they both smiled.
James told her everything that happened in his life after he had left; how he went to another city, started working in a big company but couldn’t handle it, and how he missed their friendship all the time. He added, “I am staying here for this season, after winter I will return there and quit the job. Then we can turn back to normal.”
Este hadn’t been happier than that moment. She apologized for everything a hundred times. In the end, they were happy, like they used to be.