The apartment glowed with the warm light of Christmas. Strings of fairy lights adorned the walls, casting a soft golden hue over everything.
The faint scent of pine lingered in the air, mingling with the sweetness of cinnamon candles Carmen had lit earlier. It was cozy, intimate, and the perfect atmosphere for Christmas Eve.
I sat cross-legged on the couch, fiddling absentmindedly with the edge of my sweater as Carmen moved around the living room, straightening a few misplaced ornaments on the small Christmas tree we had decorated together.
Watching her, I couldn't help but marvel at how she looked tonight. The soft, oversized black sweater she wore complemented her in a way that made her look impossibly comfortable yet strikingly beautiful.
Her hair, usually so meticulously styled, was loose and wavy, falling around her face in an effortless cascade.