On the sofa, nuts slid out of the bag one by one and fell onto the gray-white floor, bouncing slightly and making a ding-dong sound.
Elise Don moved back in slight panic, trapped in the corner of the sofa. In the next second, the duvet would swallow her, eating her whole, with only one snow-white foot sticking out.
It didn't take long before her pale toes curled involuntarily, pressing down firmly on the dark green sofa, leaving a deep indentation.
A whimpering sound emerged from under the quilt, going from urgent to slow, then from loud to soft, until it was gradually replaced by a sound that was uncertain whether it was happiness or pain.
Once again, the sound of drums and cymbals came from the TV, and the countdown to the new year began.
Nineteen, eight... three, two, one!
In the distant night sky, brilliant fireworks blossomed, dazzling and splendid, yet fleeting. In the biting wind, there was a hint of spring's arrival.
The new year has arrived.
