Winters in the mountains were usually lonely. Mornings meant hurrying over to the dying embers left from the night before while huddled in a heavy quilt. Cold hands would grab the set out sticks and chopped wood in the dim lit room. There’s a crunching noise from the stove as he’d toss the wood in. A small moment of comfort as he’d lean in to blow on the embers to spark the fire back up again. Still wrapped up in that old quilt, Kade would always grab the pot from the kitchen to start heating it for coffee as the stove started to warm the small one-roomed cabin. His clothes would warm up nearby so by the time he put them on it was always a comfort. He didn’t mind these quiet mornings alone, with a small breakfast and his reliably strong pot of coffee. 

But this morning was different. He didn’t wake up cold. For the first time since those warm summer months, Kade wasn’t clutching onto that trusty quilt as soon as he woke up. From his mattress on the floor, he could see the pot for coffee already on the stove. There was no urge to rush to get out of bed. The sound of faint humming and a sizzling of food being made hung in the air like it was the most natural thing. So he laid there in comfort. He listened as he stared up at the ceiling with the faintest smile on his lips.

He didn’t know how long he stayed like that, but eventually a voice called out to him, “No way you’re still asleep, Mr. Early bird.” That sweet voice that had waltzed back into his life just hours prior beckoned him up. Their back could be seen as they opened up the stove and fed the fire more wood. Sweet Vee.

“Maybe I went back to sleep to avoid you,” he teased, but there was no hostility behind the words.

His response earned a laugh from Vee. “I could barely get you to sleep from the excitement last night. Nice try, tough guy.”

Kade got up with the quilt out of habit, but instead of making a beeline for the stove or his already warm clothes nearby he came up behind Vee and wrapped them in a hug. The pair stood like that for a moment. Vee leaning back into Kade, enjoying the peace together.