Ruth arrived in early to work, grateful for the warm heating on the Grid as she arrived in from the biting cold outside. From the darkness of the Grid, she presumed no one else was in. Turning on a couple of lights she sat down at her desk, where her pile of reports to be done sat, along with a parcel.
She frowned, it hadn't been there last night. Removing her coat and casting it over the back of her chair, sitting down whilst at the same time picking up the parcel. It wasn't ticking, always a good sign. Carefully and neatly she unwrapped the parcel, revealing inside an old book that had seen better days, with a piece of paper on top, covering the title. She lifted up the piece of paper and started to read it.
"Dear Ruth. I found this recently, and thought you might appreciate having it back. Happy Christmas, Harry."
Placing the paper on the table she saw the book cover, and was taken back to her childhood, to her 11th birthday. Her dad had given her this book. Her hands started to shake as she opened up the cover to reveal the message that had been written there over 20 years ago. Smiling she turned through the pages, reliving the memories that book had shared.
"Hi Ruth," Tariq said as he entered. "Freezing outside, isn't it?"
She placed the book in her bag, along with the piece of paper, and put the wrapping in the bin. "Yes. Yes it is." And as she thought back to the book, and how Harry had found it for her, she started to fall even further in love with him.