Henry wraps up with a final piece of advice, and I tune back in. “Remember, you are not alone.”
We nod and rise from our seats, the air thrumming with anticipation. As we file out of the classroom, I bounce on my toes. This is it. This is my chance to prove myself, to earn my wings, to make a real difference.
The campus stretches out before us, a riot of colors and scents intermingled between the buildings that always takes my breath away. For once, I’m not tempted to linger. Earth is waiting. Noah is waiting.
I close my eyes, focusing on my destination. When I open them again, I’m standing on solid ground.
I look around, taking in my surroundings. I’m in a small town, quaint and picturesque, dusted with a layer of snow. Christmas decorations adorn the storefronts and streetlamps, twinkling merrily in the early evening light. The scent of pine and cinnamon hangs in the air, mingling with the sharp tang of wood smoke.
A few people hurry past, bundled up against the cold, their breaths puffing out in little clouds. None of them notice me, of course. To them, I’m just another face in the crowd, another person out enjoying the holiday atmosphere.
I spot a sign that reads “Benton Falls Ice Rink” and feel a pull in that direction. That must be where I’ll find Noah. I set off down the street, my steps light and bouncy. I grin as I go.
I approach the ice rink and catch sight of a trailer parked nearby with a sign that reads “Ice Skate Rentals.” A man stands behind the windows, his posture relaxed but somehow... resigned? He has tousled black hair, warm brown eyes, and there’s a kind of quiet strength about him. This must be Noah.
I hang back for a moment, observing. Noah helps a young couple with their skate rentals; his movements are efficient but not rushed. He offers them a small smile as they leave, but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. As soon as they’re gone, his shoulders slump, and he lets out a soft sigh.
My heart goes out to him. He looks... stuck. Like he’s going through the motions of life without really living it.
Well, that’s about to change.
I feel a surge of determination. This is going to be amazing. Noah , prepare yourself. Your guardian angel has arrived.
One
NOAH
Istep back from the window and slide it closed. The young couple, obviously on a third or fourth date, grin as they sit on a nearby bench and lace up their skates. I watch them for a moment, trying not to feel alone in my trailer of solitude. Being by myself has not been a problem for me. Loneliness doesn’t creep in often. Being by myself means there’s no one around to criticize me or judge what I’m doing, and I like it that way.
So why do I suddenly ache for someone to look at me the way that pretty lady looks at her date?
I draw in a breath, and the familiar scent of leather, sanitizing spray, and cold metal fills my nostrils, a comforting reminder of the routine I’ve carved out for myself.
I glance at my watch—4:55 p.m.. Right on schedule, as always. The predictability of it all settles around me like a well-worn blanket, bringing a sense of peace that I’ve come to rely on. Outside, the sun is right on the horizon, painting the ice and snow in shades of pink and salmon. Twinkling lights strung between the bare branches of the trees wink on, and the scent of pine and cinnamon wafts from the direction of the Christmas market stalls. They’re all bunched together at one end of the park, like friends huddled against the cold. I prefer it out here where no one stops by who isn’t here on business.
The clock strikes five. The frozen pond stretches out before me, its surface a mirror reflecting the gray winter sky. It’s alive with the scrape of blades and the laughter of skaters. I itch to draw this moment. These people don’t know that they are part of a winter landscape in my head—an image that will capture the laughter and the feeling of a small-town winter’s day. It’s the moments of connection I want to capture. The way the happy couple cling to one another. The daughter looking up at her father with trust and a dash of hero worship. The boy checking over his shoulder as he races to the finish line. All of it can be transferred to one drawing. I glance under the counter where I keep my sketchbook. If no one else needs skates, I might be able to get it done before—.
“Another day in paradise, eh, Noah?”
I turn to see Sam, my best friend since second grade and part-time employee, sauntering up to the trailer. His firefighter tee shirt and hoodie are hidden beneath a puffy winter coat, but I know he has one on. I don’t think he’s bought his own clothing since he started at the fire station. He works one day at the station and then one day here so I can have some time off. The schedule makes it possible for me to do the office work, grocery shop, and keep my house clean. The first few winters I owned the rental trailer, I barely had time to sleep from the moment the pond iced over to the spring thaw. Sam was looking for another job and, well, it all worked out.
“You know it,” I reply, offering a smile of my own and a fist bump. “Ready for the afternoon rush?” I plan on sticking around and sharpening skates while he helps customers.
Sam leans against the counter, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “About that... I was thinking we should close up early today and head to the Tree Lighting Ceremony.”
I shake my head, already feeling the uncomfortable prickle of anxiety at the thought of joining in with the crowd. I think they even sing carols or something. It’s not that I have a bad singing voice, it’s that I’m much more comfortable on the outside watching in rather than being a part of things. “Thanks, but I’ll pass. Someone needs to keep the rental booth open for the late-night skaters.”
“Come on,” Sam persists, his voice taking on a cajoling tone. “When was the last time you did something spontaneous?”
The word “spontaneous” sends a shiver down my spine. I force a chuckle, trying to keep my voice light. “Spontaneity is overrated. I’m perfectly content right here.”
Sam sighs in resignation. The reason we are friends, and will be until the end of time, is that he knows when to push and when to let up. Then his eyes light up with an idea. “Tell you what, I’ll go grab us some cocoa from Alexis’s stand. It’ll warm us up for the night ahead.”
At the mention of Alexis, Sam’s cheeks flush slightly, and I grin. “Ah, I see your true motives now. Go on then, Romeo. Maybe you’ll finally work up the courage to ask her out.”
Sam wiggles his eyebrows suggestively. “Hey, somebody around here should be having some romance, and Alexis is the sweetest-looking thing in Benton Falls.”
I roll my eyes good-naturedly. “Don’t let her beauty make you forget how to speak this time.”
