Christmas Eve had arrived.
The hospital corridors and wards were decked out in Christmas decorations, with red and green ornaments hung everywhere. The head nurse had even made an exception, playing Christmas carols in the hallways, creating an atmosphere of warm holiday cheer.
Christine was spending Christmas in the hospital room with her family - herself, Ethan, and Rebecca.
Last night brought the winter's first snowfall. Overnight, the world transformed into a silvery white wonderland, with thick snow blanketing the small plaza below the hospital.
Christine went downstairs to scoop up some snow in a cup, carefully carrying it back upstairs. She smiled as she held it out to Ethan, letting him touch it.
Looking at her reddened hands, Ethan wished he could pull them into his embrace to warm them, but he couldn't move. All he could do was say softly, "Don't let your hands get too cold... You might catch a cold."