Foreword:
Winterhadalwaysbeenherfavoriteseason.Thecold,thesnow,andthesilencethatcamewithitbroughtherasenseofpeacethatnothingelsecould.Butthiswinterwasdifferent.Thiswinter,thesnowcamewithaheavyheart,oneweigheddownbythememoriesofthepast.Memoriesthatshecouldn'tshakeoff,nomatterhowhardshetried.
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Shewokeuptothesoundofsnowflakestappingagainstherwindowpane,andassheopenedhereyes,shewasgreetedbyawhitewonderlandoutside.Thesnowwasfallingsteadily,blanketingeverythinginsight,andforamoment,shefeltatwingeofexcitement.
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Butthen,asshegotoutofbedandwalkedtothewindow,memoriesfloodedhermind.Memoriesofhim.Memoriesofthetimetheyspenttogether,walkinghandinhandthroughthissamesnowylandscape.
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Ithadbeentwoyearssincehewasgone.Twoyearssincethatfatefulwinterdaywhenheleftherwithoutaword.Shehadtriedtomoveon,toforgethim,butthememorieswerealwaysthere,lurkinginthecornersofhermind,readytopounceatanymoment.
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Asshewatchedthesnowfall,sheknewthatthiswinterwouldbedifferent.Thiswinter,shewouldhavetofacehermemorieshead-onandtrytomakepeacewiththem.
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Sheputonherboots,scarf,andhat,andsteppedoutsideintothesnow.Thecoldairhitherlikeaslapintheface,butshewelcomedit.Itremindedherthatshewasalive.
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Shewalkedthroughthesnowdrifts,feelingthecrunchbeneathherfeet.Thesnowwasdeeperthanshehadanticipated,andittooksomeefforttokeepmovingforward.Butshepersisted.
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Asshewalked,sherememberedthelasttimetheywalkedtogetherinthesnow.Ithadbeenaperfectday,fulloflaughterandlove.Shecouldstillfeelhishandinhers,hiswarmbreathonherneck.
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Sheshookherhead,tryingtoclearthememoriesaway.Thiswasnotthetimeforreminiscing.Thiswasthetimeforfacingherdemons.
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Shecontinuedwalkinguntilshereachedtheedgeoftown.Shestoodthere,lookingoutatthesnow-coveredfields,feelingasenseofemptinesswashoverher.
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Sheclosedhereyesandtookadeepbreath,tryingtofindsomeinnerpeace.Butallshefoundwasadeeplongingforhim.
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Suddenly,sheheardasoundbehindher.Sheturnedaroundtoseeafigurewalkingtowardsherthroughthesnow.Ashecamecloser,sherecognizedhim.Itwashim.
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Herheartskippedabeatasheapproachedher,andforamoment,sheforgotallaboutthememoriesthathadbeenhauntingher.Helookedatherwithhissoftbrowneyes,andshecouldseethelovethathestillhadforher.
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Hedidn'tsayanything,buthedidn'tneedto.Hispresencealonewasenoughtofillthevoidinsideher.
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Theystoodthereinsilence,watchingthesnowfallaroundthem.Andthen,hetookherhandinhis,andtheystartedwalkingtogether.
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Theywalkedthroughthesnowdrifts,theirfootstepsleavingatrailbehindthem.Theydidn'tsayanything,buttheydidn'tneedto.Theyweretogether,andthatwasenough.
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Astheywalked,sherealizedthatthiswaswhatshehadbeenmissing.Thisfeelingofbeinglovedandaccepted,nomatterwhat.
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Shelookedupathim,andhesmiledather.Andinthatmoment,sheknewthateverythingwasgoingtobeokay.
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Theycontinuedwalkinguntiltheyreachedtheedgeoftownagain.Andthen,hestoppedandturnedtoher.
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"I'msorry,"hesaid,hisvoicebarelyaboveawhisper."I'msorryforleavingyou.Iwasafool."
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Shelookedathim,tearswellingupinhereyes.Andthen,shethrewherarmsaroundhimandhuggedhimtightly.
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Theystoodthereforamoment,holdingeachother,beforehepulledawayandkissedhersoftlyonthelips.
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Astheywalkedbacktotown,handinhand,sherealizedthatthememorieswerestillthere,buttheydidn'thurtasmuchanymore.Shehadfoundanewmemorytoreplacethem.Amemoryofloveandforgiveness.Andforthat,shewasgrateful.Gratefulforthesnowthatbroughtthembacktogether.
