I was going to New Mexico for Christmas and New Year's, so I wouldn't be in Bellwood for his birthday.

When I told Ben, he handed me a small red box, told me not to open it until I was on the plane, and then wished me "Happy Holidays" before kissing me goodbye and heading off.

This confused me a lot more than I thought it would.

Christmas and New Year's are right around the corner.

Not to mention, Ben's birthday is also coming up soon.

Shouldn't I be giving him a present instead of the other way around?

As soon as the passengers were allowed to take out their electronics, I opened the box.

There was a snow globe in it.

A snow globe? Where did he get the idea for this? The last episode of St. Elsewhere?

The inside of the snow globe was very intricately designed.

Aside from the snow, there was a lake that had frozen over. On and around the lake were a couple of figurines playing in the snow and ice skating. Among the figurines ice skating were a boy and a girl. The boy looked like he was struggling not to fall over and holding on to the girl for dear life.

Interestingly, the couple looked like me and Ben.

Clearly he was making light of the time I took him ice skating, which looked exactly like what was happening in the snow globe.

I looked back in the box in case the snow globe came with a Christmas card or a letter or something.

Sure enough, there was a sheet of paper in the box, which I unfolded.

It was a handwritten letter.

At least I think it was a letter; I couldn't tell from the handwriting.

Anyway, the letter read:

Kai,

I'm not one to wax poetic on anything, so I'll try to keep this brief.

You probably remember as well as I do about that summer 7 years ago.

It's just hard to wrap my head around how much time that is, especially when I still remember it so clearly.

You were doing some ceremonial dance, and we were on the side watching.

Back then, I felt captivated.

7 years later, I'm even more captivated.

We might get on each other's nerves only to get back together and act like nothing happened, but if it works for Kevin and Gwen, it just might be crazy enough to work for us.

Keep in touch, and have a good holiday season.

Ben

I had to smile, thinking back to the part where he says I captivate him.

Looking back at the couple ice skating in the snow globe, I ask myself...

How does he manage to captivate me?