Alex’s Cookie Heist
Amid the swirl of conversation and tension, I spotted Alex at the dessert table, stealthily snatching cookies with a mischievous grin stretching across his face. “Caught you,” I whispered playfully when our eyes met, his quiet giggle breaking through the heaviness of the night like sunshine. He hurried over, clutching his stolen treat as if it were treasure, proudly offering me a bite of his sugary bounty. His innocence, his simple joy, felt like a soft reminder of what truly mattered, grounding me in a moment I desperately needed. I pulled him into a warm hug, grateful beyond words for his little presence and the way he sensed when the air around us shifted. Even on a night filled with tension, he managed to sprinkle sweetness exactly where it was needed.
Alex’s Cookie Heist
Winding Down The Evening
As fatigue settled deep in my bones, Jake slipped an arm around my shoulders, his quiet gesture a welcome lifeline. “Maybe it’s time to head out?” he murmured, subtly tilting his head toward the exit. Relief washed over me instantly, as if someone had opened a window in a stuffy room. “Good call,” I agreed, glancing around at the still-lively relatives who were chatting and laughing as if the night could go on forever. All I wanted at that point was to retreat home with my little family, leaving behind the glitter and artificial charm that Helen wrapped so tightly around her events. For the first time all evening, it felt like the night was finally inching toward its end.
Winding Down The Evening
