The Enchanted Christmas Cottage

It was December 16th. James was sitting on the couch in his office with a cup of green tea, with honey and a little vanilla flavored cream, sipping from his favorite mug. It was no ordinary mug. He had received it as a gift for the first anniversary of his business. The logo and the name of his company were printed on it.

It was an ordinary day; he was looking out the window at the beautiful mountains of Colorado. The view charmed him so much that he was lost in it, not able to think straight.

After a moment, he heard some noise that turned his thoughts back in time. James was back on campus after Christmas break with his family. His first class of English Poetry was in the theatrical complex on the far side of the campus. This complex had several stage areas with theater seating.

It had been snowing heavily since early that morning. James was reluctant to leave the comfort of his warm room. It was, in actuality, more appealing than the harsh cold and snowy winds outside. He decided it wouldn't be good to miss the first class, so he walked through the storm to the complex. As James entered through the crowded door, he found a spot to move freely. It was much warmer inside, and his body no longer felt numb.

James stepped back and bumped into someone while removing his snow-covered coat. Without turning to look, he said, "I'm sorry."

"That's ok," a soft, calm voice of a girl responded, right before she walked off. He never saw her face; only her long black flowing hair and a scent of vanilla lingered in the air as she walked away.