The holidays arrived with their usual flurry of festive decorations and seasonal cheer, but this Christmas was different. The usual anticipation and excitement were overshadowed by the unspoken tension that had lingered since Tessa’s wedding. I had never imagined a family gathering could feel so incomplete, but this year, Maya and I had something special planned.
As we walked into my parents’ house on Christmas Eve, the air was filled with the scent of pine and cinnamon, a comforting reminder of Christmases past. The family was already gathered, chatting and laughing, seemingly forgetting the absence that had marked Tessa’s wedding. Maya held my hand tightly, a silent reassurance that we were in this together.
