Ellie Woodcomb pulled her scarf tighter around her neck as she stepped off the plane and into the chilly December air of her hometown. It had been years since she'd returned, and everything felt both familiar and distant at the same time. The festive lights blinked merrily from the airport windows, casting a glow on the snow-covered streets, but Ellie's heart felt heavy. Coming home for the holidays always carried a mix of emotions, especially when she had built her life so far away.

She had a wonderful life back in California with her husband, Devon "Captain Awesome" Woodcomb, and their baby girl, Clara. But something about this time of year, being back in her hometown, stirred old memories. The lyrics from Taylor Swift's "'tis the damn season" echoed in her mind: "If I wanted to know who you were hanging with while I was gone, I would have asked you..." This time of year always made her think of Sam, the one who'd been left behind when her life had pulled her in a different direction.

Sam wasn't a part of her world anymore, but his presence lingered in every corner of her childhood home, in the streets of this small town, and in the smell of pine trees that filled the crisp winter air. It had been so long since they had spoken, but with each visit home, she felt a tug of nostalgia and longing, even though she knew that part of her life was over.

"Ellie!" came a familiar voice that cut through her thoughts. Chuck, her brother, waved from across the parking lot, his face bright with excitement. Behind him, Devon smiled as he carried Clara, bundled up in a puffy pink jacket and giggling from the sight of her uncle. Ellie's heart swelled at the sight of her family.

"Chuck, Devon, Clara!" Ellie beamed, walking toward them with quick steps. She hugged her brother tightly, a warmth spreading through her despite the cold. "I missed you guys."

"We missed you too," Chuck said, pulling back to smile at her. "I thought you'd never make it through that snowstorm."

"I thought so too," Ellie laughed, but the familiar ache of coming home remained in the back of her mind.


The family arrived at the old house, the warmth of the fireplace greeting them as they stepped inside. The holidays were in full swing—twinkling lights, wreaths, and the smell of gingerbread wafting from the kitchen. Chuck had always been good at making the house feel festive, and Ellie felt a pang of gratitude for her brother's enthusiasm.

Later that evening, as Clara slept and Devon and Chuck were deep in conversation about a holiday-themed surprise they were planning for Ellie, she slipped out onto the porch, seeking some quiet. Snowflakes drifted lazily through the air, and Ellie leaned against the porch railing, watching the world around her transform into a winter wonderland. It was peaceful, but her mind kept drifting to thoughts of Sam, her high school sweetheart who had stayed behind when she moved away for college.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket, interrupting her thoughts. She pulled it out, surprised to see a message from Sam. It was short, casual, but enough to stir up everything she'd been trying to avoid.

Sam: "Hey, heard you're back in town. You around? Would love to catch up if you have time."

Ellie stared at the message for a moment, her heart racing. Part of her wanted to ignore it, to leave the past where it belonged. But the other part—the part that always wondered what could have been—urged her to respond.

Before she could talk herself out of it, she typed a reply.

Ellie: "Yeah, I'm around. Maybe we could meet tomorrow?"

His response came almost immediately.

Sam: "Sounds good. How about the diner, noon?"

Ellie hesitated for a moment before replying.

Ellie: "See you there."


The next day, Ellie sat in a booth at the town's old diner, the same place she and Sam used to hang out in after school. It hadn't changed much over the years—the same red vinyl booths, the same jukebox in the corner. The nostalgia hit her hard, and she found herself fidgeting with her coffee cup as she waited for Sam to arrive.

When the door opened, and Sam walked in, Ellie felt her breath catch. He looked the same, but older—more mature, more settled in his life. His smile was the same, though, the one that had once made her heart race.

"Ellie," Sam said as he slid into the booth across from her, his eyes warm. "It's good to see you."

"You too, Sam," she replied, her voice soft. "It's been a while."

They exchanged small talk for a few minutes—about life, about how the town hadn't changed much, about how she had been. But the underlying tension, the weight of their shared past, hung between them.

Finally, Sam leaned back, his gaze searching hers. "You're back for the holidays, huh? How's California?"

Ellie nodded, taking a sip of her coffee to buy herself some time. "Yeah, just for a bit. California's great. Busy. But it's good. Devon's doing amazing, and Clara... she's growing so fast."

Sam's smile faltered slightly, and Ellie couldn't help but notice the flicker of something in his eyes—regret, maybe. "That's great, Ellie. I'm glad you're happy."

Ellie set her coffee cup down, the clatter of ceramic against the table loud in the quiet diner. "I am happy," she said, though the words felt heavy in her chest. "But being back here... it makes me think about things."

Sam raised an eyebrow, his voice soft. "Like what?"

Ellie bit her lip, glancing out the window at the snow-covered street. "Like us. Like what could have been."

The silence that followed was thick, both of them avoiding each other's eyes. Finally, Sam broke it, his voice low and raw. "I think about that too sometimes. You know, how things could have gone differently. But you had dreams, Ellie. Big ones. And you followed them."

Ellie looked at him then, her heart aching with the truth of his words. "Yeah, I did. But that doesn't mean it wasn't hard. Leaving you behind... it wasn't easy."

Sam leaned forward, his gaze intense. "It wasn't easy for me either. But I knew you had to go. I would never have held you back."

Ellie felt tears prick her eyes, but she blinked them away, trying to keep her emotions in check. "I know. And I don't regret the choices I made. But sometimes, I wonder... if we were just bad timing. If things would have been different if I had stayed."

Sam's smile was sad as he shook his head. "Maybe. But you wouldn't be who you are now if you had stayed. And I wouldn't have wanted that for you."

Ellie swallowed hard, the weight of his words settling over her. He was right, of course. She had built a beautiful life with Devon, and she wouldn't trade it for anything. But part of her couldn't help but wonder if there was a version of her life where she and Sam had made it work.

They sat in silence for a long time, both of them lost in their thoughts. Finally, Sam reached across the table, taking her hand in his. "I'll always care about you, Ellie. But you're not the same girl who left this town, and I'm not the same guy who stayed. And that's okay."

Ellie squeezed his hand, tears finally spilling over. "Yeah. It's okay."

They spent the rest of the afternoon talking, reminiscing about their high school days, laughing about old memories. By the time they left the diner, the tension between them had eased, replaced by a sense of closure that Ellie hadn't realized she needed.

As they stood outside in the cold, Sam smiled at her, his breath visible in the chilly air. "Take care of yourself, Ellie. And if you ever come back, you know where to find me."

Ellie smiled, feeling lighter than she had in a long time. "I'll see you around, Sam."


That night, Ellie sat on the couch in her childhood home, watching as Devon played with Clara near the Christmas tree. Chuck was in the kitchen, preparing hot chocolate for everyone, and the house was filled with the warmth and love of the holiday season.

As she watched her family, Ellie felt a deep sense of peace settle over her. She had made the right choice all those years ago, and though coming home had stirred up old feelings, it had also reminded her of how much she had grown.

The lyrics from "'tis the damn season" played softly in her mind: "I'm staying at my parents' house, and the road not taken looks real good now..." But for the first time, Ellie realized that the road she had taken—the life she had built—was exactly where she was meant to be.

And as she snuggled up next to Devon, her heart full, she knew that no matter how many roads she could have taken, this was her home.