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The coffee shop smelled of roasted beans, warm cinnamon, and something faintly sweet—vanilla, maybe. Outside, the snow fell in slow, lazy flakes, settling gently on the rooftops and the branches of the evergreens lining the street. The windows of Brews & Books fogged slightly from the heat inside, blurring the colorful Christmas lights strung across the town square.
Evan Hart sat at his usual table by the corner window, one hand curled around a steaming mug of black coffee. His other hand rested on a book he wasn’t reading, his thumb absently tracing the frayed edge of the cover. The book was old, a thrift-store find he’d picked up years ago—a collection of poetry he liked to revisit when his mind felt restless. Lately, it felt restless all the time.
He glanced outside, watching as a couple walked hand in hand through the snow, their laughter muted by the glass. The man held an oversized bag from the local bakery, and the woman leaned into his arm as if to soak up his warmth. Evan looked away quickly, a dull ache spreading in his chest.
“Still staring at strangers like a creep?”
Evan flinched at the voice, snapping his head toward the seat across from him. Connor was already sliding into the chair, his grin as wide and easy as ever. He shrugged off his coat, snowflakes clinging to his dark curls and the shoulders of his flannel shirt.
“I wasn’t staring,” Evan muttered, pulling his hand back from the book. “I was...thinking.”
“Sure you were,” Connor said, shaking his head. “Thinking about what? The meaning of life? The downfall of capitalism? Or—let me guess—the one that got away?”
Evan sighed, his shoulders slumping. He picked up his mug and took a sip, letting the bitter coffee burn its way down his throat. “Do you ever quit?”
“Nope,” Connor said cheerfully, leaning back in his chair. He studied Evan for a moment, his grin fading slightly. “You look like hell, you know.”
“Thanks,” Evan said dryly, setting the mug back down. “Just what I needed to hear.”
“I’m serious,” Connor said, leaning forward again. “You’ve been like this for weeks. Months, even. Staring out windows, moping around town, avoiding everyone. It’s not healthy.”
Evan clenched his jaw, his gaze fixed on the faint swirl of steam rising from his coffee. He knew Connor meant well, but that didn’t make the words any easier to hear.
“I’m fine,” Evan said finally, the lie heavy on his tongue. “I just need time.”
Connor snorted. “Time isn’t going to fix this, man. You need to get out of here. Do something. Anything.”
Evan didn’t respond. He didn’t have the energy to argue, and besides, Connor wasn’t wrong. He’d been stuck in a rut since the breakup—a rut so deep it felt like he was sinking.
A Push in the Right Direction
Connor tapped his fingers against the table, his expression shifting from teasing to thoughtful. “Alright,” he said finally. “You’re leaving.”
Evan blinked. “What?”
“You’re leaving,” Connor repeated, his tone firm. “I’m sending you away for a few days. Somewhere quiet, where you can clear your head and stop torturing yourself.”
“Connor—”
“No arguments,” Connor said, holding up a hand to cut him off. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper, sliding it across the table. “There’s a cabin in the mountains. It’s quiet, private, and perfect for getting your shit together.”
Evan stared at the paper but didn’t pick it up. “You’re kidding.”
“Do I look like I’m kidding?” Connor asked, his grin returning. “I already booked it. All you have to do is pack a bag and drive.”
Evan shook his head, the beginnings of a protest rising in his throat. But Connor gave him that look—the one that said he wasn’t going to take no for an answer.
“I can’t just leave,” Evan said weakly. “I have work.”
“It’s Christmas,” Connor said. “Nobody’s working. Besides, when was the last time you took a break? A real break, not just sitting in this café pretending to read?”
Evan didn’t respond. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d gone anywhere outside of town, let alone taken a vacation. The idea of leaving—of stepping away from everything, even for a little while—was tempting. But it also felt daunting, like admitting he couldn’t handle his own life.
“I don’t know,” Evan said finally, his voice quiet.
Connor leaned forward, his grin softening into something gentler. “Come on, man. You’ve been through a lot. You deserve this. Just...trust me, okay?”
Evan looked down at the paper again, the address scrawled across it in Connor’s messy handwriting. He could already feel the weight of the decision settling on his shoulders. But maybe Connor was right. Maybe a change of scenery was exactly what he needed.
“Fine,” Evan said, picking up the paper and folding it into his pocket. “But if this turns out to be a disaster, I’m blaming you.”
Connor laughed, clapping him on the shoulder. “Deal. Now go home and pack. And don’t forget your toothbrush this time.”
Evan rolled his eyes but couldn’t help the small smile tugging at his lips. “Yeah, yeah. I’ll see you later.”
Evan walked home from the café, the paper with the cabin address tucked firmly into his pocket. The snow had picked up, swirling around him in soft flakes that clung to his jacket and dark hair. The streets were quiet, the cheerful lights and holiday decorations standing in stark contrast to the heavy weight in his chest.
His apartment wasn’t far—a modest one-bedroom over the hardware store. It was small but functional, the kind of place you didn’t notice until you needed it. He climbed the narrow staircase to his door, fumbling with his keys in the cold before stepping inside. The air was still, the silence a reminder of just how empty it had felt lately.
He closed the door behind him and leaned against it, exhaling slowly. His eyes wandered to the corner where the Christmas tree had stood the year before. He and Mia had picked it out together, arguing playfully over which one was “the perfect height.” She’d wanted something tall and elegant, while he preferred something smaller, more manageable. In the end, they’d compromised, settling on a mid-sized tree that somehow managed to feel just right.
This year, there was no tree. No lights. No decorations. Just the faint echo of memories he couldn’t quite shake.
Evan shrugged off his coat and hung it by the door. He glanced at the clock on the wall—early afternoon, though the heavy clouds outside made it feel later. He considered unpacking the bag of books and groceries he’d bought earlier but decided against it. Instead, he crossed the small living room to the worn couch and sat down heavily, running a hand through his hair.
Connor’s words replayed in his mind.
You need this. Just trust me, okay?
He sighed, pulling the paper from his pocket and unfolding it. The address stared back at him, as though daring him to go through with it. A cabin in the middle of nowhere—what was Connor thinking? It wasn’t like Evan was the outdoorsy type. He’d spent most of his life in this town, sticking to the things he knew. The idea of being completely alone, away from everything familiar, was equal parts terrifying and strangely appealing.
Evan leaned back, letting his head rest against the cushions. Maybe Connor was right. Maybe a change of scenery would help. It wasn’t like he had anything to lose.
Packing the Pieces
Evan didn’t own much, so packing didn’t take long. A couple of sweaters, jeans, thick socks, and his heaviest boots. He tossed in a scarf and gloves for good measure, along with his favorite book—the one he’d been pretending to read at the café. He hesitated before grabbing a framed photo from the shelf, one of him and Mia at the town fair last summer. Her smile was bright, her arm looped through his as they stood in front of the Ferris wheel. He set the frame back down.
Instead, he grabbed the thermos Connor had given him years ago, a battered thing with a dent near the bottom. It was scratched and faded, but it still worked. He filled it with coffee, packed it alongside his things, and zipped up the bag.
The drive up to the mountains wasn’t far—Connor had promised it was only a couple of hours. But the way the snow was coming down, it might as well have been on another planet. He checked the weather app on his phone, frowning at the blizzard warning blinking on the screen. The storm wasn’t supposed to hit until late tonight, though. If he left now, he could beat it.
With one last glance around the apartment, he slung the bag over his shoulder and locked the door behind him.
The Drive
The snow began to fall harder as Evan left the town limits, the familiar streets giving way to long stretches of empty road flanked by dense pine forests. The radio crackled faintly, caught between static and the faint strains of a Christmas carol. He turned it off, preferring the sound of the tires crunching over the snow and the rhythmic squeak of the windshield wipers.
His thoughts wandered as he drove, memories of Mia creeping in despite his best efforts to push them away. They’d met at a friend’s party, her laughter cutting through the noise like sunlight breaking through clouds. He’d been smitten almost instantly, drawn to her quick wit and easy charm.
The relationship had been good—for a while. They’d built a life together, balancing each other’s quirks and habits. But over time, the cracks began to show. Arguments about nothing turned into arguments about everything, and the warmth between them slowly faded into something colder, sharper. By the end, it felt like they were speaking different languages.
Evan tightened his grip on the wheel, shaking his head. It didn’t matter now. She was gone, and he needed to figure out how to move forward.
The snow thickened as he climbed higher into the mountains, the road winding through narrow passes and sharp curves. His phone lost signal about thirty minutes ago, leaving him alone with the sound of the storm building around him. The address Connor had given him was scrawled on a piece of paper on the passenger seat, but there were no road signs, no landmarks—just the endless expanse of white.
Finally, after what felt like hours, the cabin came into view. It was nestled in a small clearing, its dark wood exterior partially obscured by the swirling snow. Smoke curled lazily from the chimney, and the faint glow of light spilled from the windows, illuminating the porch and the neatly stacked pile of firewood beside the door.
Evan exhaled slowly, relief flooding through him. He pulled into the small driveway, but as he stepped out of the car, the wind whipped around him, stinging his face and making him shiver. The storm was picking up faster than he’d expected.
He grabbed his bag from the backseat and trudged toward the cabin, his boots sinking into the snow with each step. When he reached the porch, he raised a hand to knock but hesitated. What if Connor had been wrong? What if this wasn’t the right place?
Before he could second-guess himself, the door swung open, and Evan found himself face-to-face with a man who looked as though he belonged to the mountains themselves.
_____
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My novel that already published on KDP
- OMG F*cking life journey vol.1 (long seires, 100+ pages) full book on my KDP!
- The New Collection : Brandon’s Shame full book (100+pages) on my KDP too! (E-Book)
- Bare to the Bone (new! medley of short stories)
.. I binge read volume 1. I need to know what happens next 
.. I can’t wait!!
