I watch from my window as snow floats to the earth. My baby sister giggles and tells me it is the prettiest thing in the world. But Seasonal Affective Disorder has closed in and my rib cage is made of ice and all I feel is an unexplainably profound sorrow. My sister tugs at my arms and tells me she knows I am sad. She doesn’t ask me why, only drags me into her room and shows me my gift. Christmas lights balled up in a mess of glue and tape, all lit up. My rib cage thaws a little.
"Winter Warmth" is a featured 100-word story from the December Writing Challenge.