It was three weeks previously to Christmas, and the snowfall was new from the heavens. The roads and trails were sheltered in a spineless, snowy blanket, as were the plants and cars. Everything was moving slower, at a more compassionate and graceful speed, and there was bliss in the air. Though it was still three weeks away, there was a Christmas-like merriment and anticipation in the air that was only intensified by the wintertime paradise outside.

Serena was in her senior year at Juuban High School, with her four best friends; Ray, Lita, Mita and Amy. Each girl was so diverse, and each had their burdens. Serena mirrored inclined against the window, looking down at the slush-covered street below. Though she thought, she wouldn't change one thing about any of the girls for anything.

*Phone beeps*

"Ah, it's Sam," Serena stated to herself after she removed her phone from her pocket and proceeded to read the text.

"Can't make coffee today, raincheck? Sorry."

Sam was Serena's brother, just a year younger than herself. When their parents split, Serena decided she'd live with their mom, Ilene, and Sam decided to have every second week with each parent. Since the split, Serena hadn't seen Ken, their father, and didn't want to. But the living arrangement meant that she and Sam only saw each other every two weeks. They never crossed paths at all during school hours.

Serena started to text her response "Yeah, sure Sam. Next weekend?"

Serena heard a happy cry from a child on the sidewalk as she laughed and playfully punched her brother in the arm. The children couldn't have been more than six, Serena thought as Sam texted back his reply:

"Sounds good, sis."

Serena smiled and put her phone away in her pocket where it was earlier. Saturday with Ilene gone and just time to herself, Serena observed. She decided to walk down to her favourite bookstore a few blocks away. There was something magical about the snow, Serena thought as she looked out her window again. She grabbed her red coat and cream crochet hat and put them on, threw her bag over her shoulder and grabbed a black scarf and headed out of the apartment towards the snow paradise awaiting her.

Freezing cold but perfectly content, Serena finally pushed open the old brown wooden door which opened into the bookstore. There were only two other souls in the small store; someone browsing in the poetry section, and the cashier; just the way she liked it.

As she closed the door behind her and the bell jangled signalling someone had entered, Serena noticed the man with his head in a poetry book raise his head and lock eyes with hers. He couldn't have been more than 23, Serena thought. His eyes were kind and honest. She gave a small, kind smile before turning her head away. A notice next to the door caught her attention:

"Author Darien Shields to present a reading from his first novel 'There will be Paradise'". The date was scratched out with a single black marker line and was replaced with the words 'TODAY'. Serena noticed the reading was in 5 minutes and decided to stay. She could feel someone standing only about a foot away from her, but she didn't feel the need to shift away. A man's voice then said "sounds like a guy who was writing from a place of heartbreak" he commented to Serena.

She half smiled and turned toward the man who was curiously waiting for a reply. It was the man who she had locked eyes with earlier. His beautiful blue eyes now being so close to her allowed her to see every speckle in them. She stared into his eyes reading them with curiosity, noticing they were deep. She was pretty sure they could see right through her; that was the feeling she had when he looked into her eyes anyway. She felt completely comfortable though if he could.

"It does sound like that," Serena replied kindly.

"I believe writing has a power to cure a torn soul, and can serve as a grieving process," the man said.

"I agree. What do you have to grieve from?" Serena asked as his eyes widened slightly by her boldness. The man went to reply, but decided to close his mouth and smile softly as his head lowered slightly.

"How about we take this slow?" he asked as he reached out his hand, hoping she would shake it momentarily and tell him her name.

She grabbed his hand in the shake and a small gasp leapt from her mouth as she felt the electricity between them. He would have heard, she thought; but she didn't mind. "I'm Serena," she replied strongly, with her cheeks blushing softly. "It's nice to meet you, Serena," he replied. They remained staring deep into each other's eyes, their hands frozen in the shake.

"DARIEN!," the man behind the counter bellowed, "it's time." He removed his hand from Serena's as he slowly stumbled back to reality.