"TWELVE ROSES" | Chapter 5: December 16 | Strength

Daily Chapter from December 12- 25 Christmas

Chapter 5: December 16 | Strength

The snow had stopped by morning, leaving the world wrapped in a pristine silence. Anna stood by the window, her coffee untouched on the counter. The streets outside looked untouched, soft blankets of white hugging the trees and sidewalks. She pressed her forehead against the cold glass, the weight of the previous day still lingering in her chest.

You matter.

The note’s message had followed her through the night. Even now, it seemed to reverberate in her thoughts, a quiet rhythm she couldn’t ignore. She hadn’t expected to find another rose today, and yet, when she opened the door to check, her breath faltered.

It was there.

The fifth rose rested against the black mailbox, its petals just as vibrant, the brown paper carefully wrapped, as though shielding it from the cold. She stepped into the crisp air, a tightness settling in her throat as she reached for it. Her slippers crunched softly in the snow, each step grounding her in the moment.

When she unfolded the note, the words inside nearly undid her.