Winter Bells

The hum of laughter and conversation filled the office as people bustled around, packing up for the day. It was Friday afternoon, and everyone seemed to have an extra bounce in their step, eager for the weekend. Hailey Kim glanced at the clock, a smile tugging at her lips as she stacked a few files neatly on her desk.

"Alright, everyone," she called, her voice light with excitement. "I'm off! I'll see you all Monday—unless the wedding planning drives me completely crazy over the weekend!"

A chorus of goodbyes and playful comments echoed back at her from her colleagues.

"Hailey, save us some cake samples if you get any extras!" her coworker Amy teased, winking from across the room.

"I'm still expecting that wedding invite, by the way!" someone else called, and Hailey laughed, waving her hand.

"Oh, don't worry, I'd never deny you free food and a chance to show off on the dance floor," she joked back, earning a few laughs. "See you all next week!"

With a final wave, she grabbed her bag and headed toward the elevator. As she stepped inside, her phone buzzed with a text. She glanced down and smiled at the message: Can't wait to see you tonight. It was from David, her fiancé, and the reminder of their upcoming wedding plans filled her with a quiet joy. Just two weeks to go until she'd be walking down the aisle to marry the man she loved.

Stepping out onto the street, Hailey felt the chill of December air against her cheeks. The city was wrapped in a soft winter glow, Christmas lights adorning shop windows and lampposts, and the distant sound of carolers adding to the magic in the air. She instantly waved a cab to a stop.

"Maple & Mirth." Hailey said to the driver as she settled in the back. With a nod from him, the car set into motion, heading to the café where she'd planned to meet her friends, eager to share the latest updates on the wedding with them.

After an hour, the café finally came into view, warm and inviting, the glow of lights and laughter spilling out onto the street. Hailey gently slammed the door with a tud as she headed to for the cafe.

The air was crisp, filled with the comforting warmth of roasting coffee beans and faint Christmas music playing in the background as Hailey Kim pushed open the door of her favorite café, grinning as the familiar chime rang above her. Her friends were already gathered at their usual table near the window, waving her over with bright smiles.

"You're late!" Sarah teased, nudging Hailey playfully as she sat down, her cheeks flushed from the cold outside.

"Blame traffic," Hailey laughed, setting down her bag. She tugged off her scarf and sighed in contentment. "Besides, I'm worth the wait, aren't I?"

They all burst into laughter, the kind of laughter that warmed the room, each of them glowing in the holiday cheer. This was her favorite time of the year—December, when the streets were lined with twinkling lights, and everyone seemed to be a little softer, a little more alive.

"Did you bring the pictures of the venue?" asked Emma, leaning forward eagerly. "I want to see every single detail!"

Hailey's heart fluttered as she pulled out her phone, scrolling through photos of the charming venue she and David had chosen for their wedding. Her friends leaned in, marveling at the elegant setup, the white flowers, the perfect lighting. It was everything she'd ever dreamed of, everything she'd planned for as carefully as she'd planned the life she was about to build.

"Well, look who's going to be Mrs. Parker in just a few weeks," Sarah cooed, nudging Hailey's shoulder.

"And guess who are going to be the bride's maids... " Emma said.

"Us" They both giggled, and Hailey couldn't help but laugh along.

"Honestly, I'm jealous." Sarah interjected. "David is such a catch."

Hailey's cheeks flushed. "I know," she whispered, her heart swelling. David was her best friend, her confidant, the love she'd waited years to find. "I can't wait to spend my life with him."

Just as she was about to continue, a cheerful applaud from a crowd made their gaze shifted in the direction where it came from. A bright smile instantly lighted her face but then, a familiar voice rang out from across the café. It was unmistakably David's voice, warm and deep, but laced with a tone she didn't recognize—a tone of nervous excitement.

"David?" Hailey murmured, glancing over her shoulder.

The entire café had fallen silent, eyes fixed on the scene near the counter. There, standing in the center of a small circle of staff and patrons, was David himself. He was down on one knee, a velvet ring box open in his hand, his face lit with a tender smile.

A smile directed at someone else.

Hailey's breath caught, her laughter fading as if it had never existed. Her gaze shifted to the woman standing before David—a beautiful stranger, her face glowing with the same joy Hailey had once imagined on her own wedding day. The woman gasped, her hand covering her mouth as David spoke words that Hailey could barely comprehend.

"Will you marry me?"

The café erupted into applause, but to Hailey, the sound was muffled, her world blurring around her. It felt like a dream—or rather, a nightmare she couldn't escape. She wanted to scream, to run, to demand answers, but her body refused to move. She simply stood there, frozen in place, as she watched her future shatter before her eyes.

As David slipped the ring onto the woman's finger, Hailey's hands trembled, her heart breaking into pieces she feared would never come together again. Emma and Sarah on the other hand, couldn't help but share a concerned gaze at Hailey.