“I love you.”

No sooner had the words left his mouth than had turned and ran away from him, her face a ghostly white like the several inches of crisp snow that covered the ground and a nauseous feeling in the pit of her stomach that seemed to be rising with every heavy step that she took…

Several days had passed and the sickly feeling had long gone. The colour had since returned to her cheeks but she wasn’t sure whether that was because she had fully recovered from his sudden outburst or if it was just an effect from the freezing cold as she trudged along on the snow-laden pavement. As the cold nipped at her feet, she cursed at herself for her choice of footwear: a thin pair of silk-like red high heels. It may not have been the smartest of choices but somehow she didn’t think it was her worst one as none would top her running out on her boyfriend of a year’s declaration of love nearly a week ago. She cringed at the thought. She just hoped that what she was about to do would make up for it and, probably more importantly, save her relationship.

As she found herself on the outside of ’s front gate she took in a deep breath, removed her gloved hands from her pockets and smoothed out her crimson coat (again, not one of her wisest choices as it barely gave her any kind of barrier from the elements. She undid the latch on the gate and pushed it open, the pile of snow atop of it sticking firmly in place and acting as a cushion for the new batch of snowflakes softly falling from the sky. She walked up the path, the snow crunching under her feet right up until she reached the door. She took in another deep breath before knocking loudly. She listened out for any signs of life inside, her heart hammering wildly in her chest. Her ears were soon met with the sound of someone thundering down the set of stairs that stood no more than five feet from the door.

The door was pulled open and there stood in all of his glory, unshaven and wearing a long-sleeved shirt and a rather smart looking pair of pinstriped trousers.

Her breath caught in her throat and he appeared to be somewhat winded. They blinked in silence at each other for a moment or so with her taking in his expressionless face and him wondering why on earth she was there when she had made it all too clear about how she felt about him.

was the first to break it; “Oh… er… hi.”

“Hi,” a familiar blush crept up her cheeks. He looked good despite her reaction to his affections a week prior.

He stared at her for a little while before shaking his head from his thoughts, realising he was being rude. “Do you want to come in?”

She nodded at him, her icy breath creating a light fog as she breathed outwards, “Please.”

He stepped to the side and let her in, closing the door behind him.

“Let me take your coat.”

“I’d rather you didn’t. What I have to say will only take a few minutes – if you’ll hear me out.”

He nodded and led her to the living room where he offered her a seat to which she accepted.

He sat down in an armchair opposite to her chosen spot on the end of his couch:

“So why are you here?”

“I wanted to apologise for leaving you in the lurch. I just…” she trailed off.

“Don’t feel the same? It’s fine. I mean; it’s not and I really wished you’d told me sooner rather than waiting an entire year to tell me but it’s all good.” He was clearly deeply hurt. She sighed, “It’s not like that, .”

“Then what is it like, ? When did you realise you didn’t love me?”

She blinked her eyes closed, pinching at her brow with her still-gloved right hand. Maybe it was a bad idea to come here; “I didn’t.”

Her revelation left him speechless. He wasn’t sure if he had heard her correctly or if he had meant what he thought she had.

“You just surprised me is all – “

“Not as half as I was when you ran off.” She knew he would feel rejected and sad but she hadn’t thought he’d be this mad, at least; not with her.

“I just wasn’t expecting for you to tell me that you loved me. I’ve never had anyone tell me that before – especially in the way that you meant it – and it scared me. I didn’t know how to process it – it’s such a foreign concept to me. To be loved.”

His face fell a little, his features softening. He hadn’t been expecting that.

“But I do now – know how to process it – and that’s why I’m here.” There was something about her tone that made him suddenly feel deflated as if all the fight had left him. This he had been expecting.

“It’s fine. You don’t have to explain yourself. I know -“ he stood up and began pacing around as he spoke.

“I love you too.” Her words fell on deaf ears as he continued his speech. Watching him ramble on before he finally caught on caused her to giggle.

He stopped dead in his tracks; “You… What?”

“I love you,” she rose from her seat and walked over to meet him.

He put his hands on her forearms, making sure she was real, “Are you sure?”

She giggled again, nodding, “I’m sure.”

His eyes lit up although his brain was still struggling a little to keep up.

She leaned in and kissed him slowly, a smile forming on their lips as they pulled apart.

“Oh, and I brought your Christmas present with me.”

Hi brow furrowed. He hadn’t seen her bring anything with her – all she had brought with her was her coat. Maybe there was something in one of her pockets?

“What did you get me?”

She pulled the tie on her coat and it fell open. She slid it off and let it fall to the floor. His mouth fell open. She was wearing nothing more than her heels and a red satin ribbon tied around her body leaving just enough to the imagination, “This.”