With her aunt's house fifty miles away, Ariana decided to spend the vacation month in the dormitory. Reminders were everywhere; Christmas was only 35 days away. This would be the first Christmas in eight years she wouldn't celebrate with her aunt, uncle, and cousin. A pang of loneliness touched her, but it was quickly followed by a spark of anticipation—her birthday was next month. ⛄
A smile played on her lips as she wandered the college garden, remembering her high school friends. They would tease her as a "November baby," the supposed result of a Valentine's Day romance, counting nine months forward from February. It was a silly, running joke that she secretly cherished. 👶
Her nostalgic reverie was broken by a voice calling her name from behind. A voice she had been waiting ten long days to hear.
She turned. There stood Kian, silhouetted against a sky ablaze with orange and red, the distant croak of frogs providing a gentle soundtrack to the moment. They moved toward each other, and the space between them vanished in a tight, wordless hug. To an outsider, it might have seemed a simple reunion, but for them, it was the end of a small eternity. Ariana felt the sting of joyful tears in her eyes, blinking them away as she breathed in the familiar, comforting scent of him. 💓
They talked as the colors deepened into twilight, sharing stories saved up during the exam siege, their words tumbling out in a happy rush. Finally, they walked back to their dormitories under the soft glow of the rising moon, their "good nights" carrying a warmth that promised more days like this to come.
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The first true day of the holiday dawned warm and bright. There were thirteen days until her birthday. As a child, her mother had told her the name "Ariana" was chosen for its inherent beauty and its meaning—"most holy," "very pure";a fitting gift for a daughter born in the sacred month before Christmaswarm and bright. There were thirteen days until her birthday. As a child, her mother had told her the name "Ariana" was chosen for its inherent beauty and its meaning "most holy," "very pure" a fitting gift for a daughter born in the sacred month before Christmas. ✨
Standing on the college grounds, Ariana watched the sun crest the distant mountains. The early light caught in her black curls and made her dark brown eyes sparkle. She was still bathed in that goldenStanding on the college grounds, Ariana watched the sun crest the distant mountains. The early light caught in her black curls and made her dark brown eyes sparkle. She was still bathed in that goldenglow when Kian arrived. Without a need for grand plans, they simply began to walk through the garden, content to spend the whole morning and into the afternoon in each other's quiet company, the whole, unhurried day stretching out before themglow when Kian arrived. Without a need for grand plans, they simply began to walk through the garden, content to spend the whole morning and into the afternoon in each other's quiet company, the whole, unhurried day stretching out before themlike a promise. 🤩