The Next Day
Soft morning light slipped gently through the narrow vents, casting delicate patterns across the wooden floor. The air outside was still cold, but not as biting as the night before. Fresh snow had fallen overnight white, soft, and nearly untouched. The world looked as if it had been wrapped in a giant cotton blanket.
Athena wrapped a wool scarf around her neck and called out, "Asher, are you ready?"
A few seconds later, Asher emerged from the room, wearing an oversized winter coat, a slightly crooked knit beanie, and a mismatched pair of gloves. He looked stiff but adorably.
"I think... yes," he answered, glancing down at his shoes. "Are these on the right feet?"
Athena chuckled. "Close enough."
They stepped outside together. The snow crunched softly under their boots, creating a rhythm to their morning walk. Their breath hung in the air, visible like wisps of cloud, but neither of them complained. There was something magical about walking side by side like this, Athena calm and composed, Asher wide-eyed like he was seeing the world for the very first time.
They strolled through the neighborhood, passing frosty wooden fences, chimneys puffing gentle smoke, and pine trees dusted with snow. Everything felt slow, soft, and peaceful.
"Are you cold?" Athena asked.
"Not too much," Asher replied, looking around. "Is it always like this?"
"No... When summer comes, the weather gets better," Athena said, pointing toward a large, snow-covered field sparkling under the morning sun. "Let's go there. Looks fun."
Asher followed her finger, his blue eyes widening as he saw dozens of children running across the field, laughing and yelling joyfully. Some wore ice skates, gliding smoothly across frozen patches. Others were rolling snowballs and tossing them at each other. A few were building tiny snowmen with crooked carrot noses and scarves made from old socks.
Asher's face lit up.
"Let's go!"
He sped up, like his body was moving ahead of his mind.
"Careful, Asher! It's slippery!" Athena called after him.
But Asher didn't seem to care. He was already at the edge of the field, watching the children with wide-eyed wonder. A snowball flew past and smacked into a tree nearby. Asher flinched, then burst into laughter a full, unfiltered laugh, the first real one since he'd arrived.
"What are they doing?" he asked, eyes wide.
"Playing," Athena answered. "That's called a snowball fight."
"Snow... ball," he repeated slowly, then crouched down and scooped up a handful of snow. "Cold."
"Try packing it together."
He followed her instructions, molding a small, uneven clump. He held it up proudly. "I made this."
Athena smiled. "Nice job. Now throw it."
Asher hesitated. "Where?"
She pointed to herself. "Try me."
"But... won't that hurt you?"
Athena laughed. "It's just snow. It doesn't hurt."
Slowly, Asher tossed the snowball. It missed by a mile and landed near Athena's boots.
She clapped gently. "Amazing accuracy, Mr. Kingsleigh."
Asher laughed, ducking as Athena threw a soft snowball that hit him square in the chest.
"Hey!" he giggled.
And just like that, the snowball fight began gentle throws, laughter, chasing each other, breaths coming in quick and happy bursts. The children nearby watched them and eventually invited Asher to join in.
He looked at Athena as if asking for permission.
She nodded. "Go on, have fun!"
Asher ran off wobbling slightly, but full of enthusiasm and quickly blended in. Athena stood back, arms crossed, smiling softly.
She watched him laugh, help build a snowman, even slip and fall flat on his back but laugh.
In that moment, Athena forgot that he was a man without a past. He wasn't a mystery to be solved. He was simply... Asher, the sweet soul who was slowly filling the empty spaces in her life.
A curly-haired little boy approached Asher, eyes bright, and pointed to a worn-out pair of blue skates that still looked usable.
"Mister, wanna try?"
Asher looked at the skates, then back at Athena for approval.
Athena laughed softly. "If you fall, I'm not helping you."
"As long as you don't laugh too hard, I'll be okay," Asher replied with a grin.
He took the skates and crouched down, struggling a bit to put them on. They were a little tight, but workable.
His first steps were wobbly like a baby cow learning to walk. Arms stretched wide, legs unsure.
"You look like a duck," Athena teased.
Asher looked up. "Then… you should be a duck too."
"What?"
He slipped off one skate and handed it to her. "Let's do it together."
"I can't even stand in these," Athena protested through a laugh.
"But I'll hold your hand," he said simply, sweetly. "We can fall… together."
Athena looked at the skate, then at his face, and sighed.
"Alright. But if I die, it's your fault."
Moments later, the two of them stood shakily side by side in their borrowed skates, hands tightly clasped.
Asher pointed to a gentle slope near the edge of the field. The snow was smooth and slightly slick.
"Ready?" he asked.
Athena glanced at the hill, then at their intertwined hands. "I'm not sure."
"Too late," Asher grinned, tugging her gently and gravity did the rest.
They slid downhill not too fast, but just enough to make hearts race. Their feet wobbled, their balance barely holding. Snow kicked up around them.
"Asheeer! I'm gonna fall!" Athena shrieked.
"Me too!" Asher panicked. "Whoaaa!"
And just like that, they toppled over—
rolling off the path into a soft pile of snow. Athena flinched, bracing herself, but landed safely… on top of Asher's chest.
Silence.
Athena opened her eyes slowly, breathless. Asher was staring back up at her, eyes wide at first then softening. Their breaths were quick, but neither moved.
Their faces were just inches apart.
Snow drifted down around them, but neither noticed. All that existed in that moment was the rhythm of their breathing… and their locked gaze.
Athena froze. Asher did too. No words. Just warmth in the cold.
"You're beautiful," Asher whispered.
Athena blinked, suddenly aware of her position. Her face flushed deep red.
"Oh my God… sorry!" She scrambled to her feet, brushing snow off her arms.
Asher lay still for a moment, then slowly sat up, rubbing his back. "That was… amazing," he said with a quiet laugh.
Athena covered her face with her gloved hands. "We almost died!"
"But we fell together," Asher replied calmly, smiling at her.
"But we still fell. Together or not, it was dangerous."
"But I protected you."
Athena blinked. "Yeah… I guess you did."
"I want to always protect you, Athena," Asher said with a gentle smile whether from affection or dependency, neither of them could quite tell.
Athena didn't answer. She just chuckled softly and stood up, then offered him her hand.
Asher took it. But being much taller, his weight nearly pulled her off balance. He quickly steadied her, holding on tightly and somehow, his hands slipped to her waist.
He leaned down, his gaze locking with hers.
Was he falling for her?
But… wasn't he supposed to be innocent?