December.
One of the most anticipated months of the year.
The air was always filled with an unmistakable sense of joy and magic. Streets lit up with festive lights, stores playing the same cheerful carols on repeat, and everywhere you turned, people seemed just a bit happier than usual. Some looked forward to snowy evenings spent building snowmen or sipping hot cocoa by a fire. Others embraced the spirit of giving, shopping for loved ones, exchanging gifts, and attending holiday parties dressed in their warmest, most stylish coats.
Families reconnected. Friends gathered. Love seemed to linger in the air.
But for Kana, it was the same old, same old.
This would be her fifth Christmas in the hospital.
She remembered her first one vividly, how quiet the room felt despite the decorations the nurses had lovingly put up. There were no family visits, no holiday dinners, and no laughter echoing in the halls. Just beeping machines, the hum of fluorescent lights, and the occasional distant chatter of nurses passing by.
Over the years, she had grown used to it. The routine never changed. A few nurses, bless their hearts, would bring her small gifts: a new pair of fuzzy socks, a box of chocolate, maybe even a book or two. They always tried to make her smile, and she appreciated them more than she ever let on. And then there was Dr. Kennedy. He always saved his gift for last, presenting it with a warm smile and a quiet, thoughtful presence that had become comforting to her. He never made a big show of it, but his gifts always seemed personal, like he had truly paid attention to her during the year.
This year, she wondered if Jane might surprise her with something too. Jane had a kind heart and a gentle way of speaking. Kana liked her. It was a small hope, but a hope nonetheless.
Meanwhile, John had always seen December differently.
His birthday landed right before Christmas, which meant the entire month was packed with excitement, at least when he was younger. Back then, he'd look forward to it for weeks, double the presents, double the attention. But as the years passed, the magic faded.
His birthday had become more of a reminder of things he didn't have, most notably, a peaceful relationship with his mother. Every year, they fought. Every year, the tension in their home drowned out any real celebration. It wasn't even about the gifts anymore. He just wanted someone to genuinely care.
This year, he tried to make plans early.
He had asked Rose if she'd be around on the 24th. She was one of the few people who had made things feel normal for him lately. But she had already made plans, hanging out with Amanda and later spending time with her family. She apologized, said she wished she could make it, but her schedule was full.
Ivan had flown out of the country to celebrate with his relatives abroad.
Joseph was tied up at his cousin's house, fully immersed in family events.
And Rachel… well, Rachel wasn't speaking to him right now, for reasons he didn't really want to think about.
So, as fate would have it, both Kana and John found themselves completely free over the holidays, their calendars void of celebration. No parties. No get-togethers. Just a quiet, empty space in the middle of the most joyful month of the year.
*******
That evening, Kana sat quietly on her hospital bed, her back resting against the wall, with a thin white blanket draped over her legs. A clear tube ran from the IV drip beside her, ending in a syringe taped to the back of her left hand. The soft beeping of machines filled the room in the background, a rhythm she had grown used to over the past four years.
Her eyes, however, were fixed on one thing—her phone.
She held it gently in her right hand, her thumb hovering over the screen as she stared at the locked display. John had promised he would call her as soon as he got off work. She trusted him—she always did—but tonight felt different. The anticipation gnawed at her insides, pulling her deeper into a mixture of nervous excitement and quiet dread.
As the minutes ticked by, she found herself drifting into memory.
She remembered something Jane had asked her a few months ago—something she hadn't been able to stop thinking about since.
"Do you… perhaps like John?"
At the time, she laughed it off. Told Jane she didn't know. That she hadn't thought about it that way.
But here she was, three months later, still unable to answer that simple question.
Kana pulled her legs up and wrapped her arms around her knees, resting her chin gently on top. A soft sigh escaped her lips.
Did she like John?
The thought of him made her heart race. Sometimes, just the sound of his voice over the phone was enough to make her day. And when she pictured his face—his awkward smiles, the way he spoke so casually about serious things, the tired eyes that somehow still sparkled with life—it made her cheeks flush, even now.
Still, something inside her hesitated. She didn't know if it was right to feel this way. She didn't know if someone like her—stuck in a hospital bed, tethered to machines, and uncertain about tomorrow—deserved to like someone like him.
Suddenly, her phone buzzed.
The screen lit up, vibrating against the mattress.
John was calling.
Kana's eyes widened slightly. Her heart skipped a beat. She was about to answer when she stopped herself.
Instead, she reached over to her bedside table and grabbed the black rubber band she kept there. She quickly ran her fingers through her hair and began tying it into a neat ponytail. Even though he couldn't see her—especially over a phone call—she wanted to look good. It was silly, but she wanted to feel good, to feel normal, even for a few minutes.
Once satisfied with how her hair looked, she took a deep breath and pressed the answer button.
Lonelygirl4556
> Hey… took you long enough.
Gamerboy115
> Damn, no "Hi John, how was your day?" Just straight-up violence, huh?
Kana smirked behind her screen, already feeling her mood lift.
Lonelygirl4556
> Fine. Hi John, how was your thrilling day of scanning bananas and chasing down old ladies who forget their change?
John let out a quiet laugh and rubbed his tired eyes.
Gamerboy115
> Your joke, but Mrs. Takeda did forget her change today. Again.
Kana giggled, twirling a strand of her ponytail between her fingers.
Lonelygirl4556
> Maybe she just wants an excuse to come back and see you.
John's grin was wide as he leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his messy hair.
Gamerboy115
> Please don't make me blush in front of you. I'm exhausted and already look like a disaster.
Kana's teasing faded into something softer. She tilted her head slightly, eyes tracing his expression on the screen before replying, her voice quieter than before.
Lonelygirl4556
> You don't look like a disaster.
John arched an eyebrow, amused.
Gamerboy115
> Oh? That sounded dangerously close to a compliment, Lonelygirl.
Kana's face instantly turned red as she realized what she'd said. She waved her hands as if he could see her panic through the camera.
Lonelygirl4556
> I—I was just being polite! Don't get weird about it!
John couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Gamerboy115
> You tied your hair up again… You only do that when you're trying to look cute. Or when—
Kana immediately grabbed at her ponytail self-consciously, blushing deeper.
Lonelygirl4556
> I-It's hot! That's the only reason, don't flatter yourself!
John grinned at her flustered reaction.
Gamerboy115
> Right, right. Totally unrelated to me calling, I'm sure.
Kana groaned and buried her face behind her knees, hiding from the screen.
Lonelygirl4556
> You're so annoying…
John's voice dropped, more gentle now.
Gamerboy115
> Yeah, but you keep answering anyway.
There was a pause, her voice just a whisper.
Lonelygirl4556
> …Yeah. I do.
A moment of silence settled over them. Then Kana glanced out her window, something catching her eye.
Lonelygirl4556
> Hey… look. It's starting to snow.
John blinked, then turned his head toward his own window. The snow was falling softly outside, just like she said. He smiled, the kind of quiet, thoughtful smile that only showed up in moments like this.
Gamerboy115
> Yeah. It has.
Neither of them spoke for a while. The only sound was the faint static hum of the call as they sat together, miles apart, but watching the same snow fall on their separate worlds. Kana looked over at him again. He was still staring out the window, and the side of his face was illuminated just right — calm, a little tired, but warm. Her heart fluttered unexpectedly.
She turned her head quickly, hoping he hadn't noticed.
But John had. He caught the way her eyes flicked and how fast she moved. His grin returned.
He chuckled under his breath but didn't say anything right away. Instead, he leaned his cheek on his hand and stared at her, wondering if she knew how obvious she was becoming.
Eventually, Kana cleared her throat, the snowfall stirring something tender inside her. She tugged her sleeves over her hands and looked down for a moment before speaking again.
Lonelygirl4556
> So… Do you have any plans for the holidays?
John perked up, sitting up straighter in his chair.
Gamerboy115
> Uh… not really. My friends are all busy, and I asked Rose if she'd be free, but she's got family stuff. And… well, I can't really ask my mom for anything, because…
He stopped. That silence was heavy, and it lingered longer than he meant it to. But Kana didn't push. She knew that silence carried more weight than any explanation.
Lonelygirl4556
> Oh. I see.
John sighed softly.
Gamerboy115
> What about you? Do you have any plans?
Kana looked around her sterile room, the quiet beeping of machines, the white walls, the scent of antiseptic that never left. Her smile was sad but genuine.
Lonelygirl4556
> Me? Not really. I mean… there's not much I can do in a hospital ward, right?
Gamerboy115
> Yeah… Sorry about that.
Lonelygirl4556
> Don't be. It's not your fault I'm stuck here. Life just… is what it is sometimes.
They fell quiet again. But this time, John's mind raced. His chest felt tight with something unresolved, like he was on the edge of a decision, one that felt big but right.
He hesitated, just for a second.
And then he asked it.
Gamerboy115
> Hey… what if I came to see you?
Kana's eyes widened. Her hands stilled on her lap. For a moment, she thought maybe she misheard him.
Lonelygirl4556
> …What?
John's voice was quiet now, but clear.
Gamerboy115
> I mean it. What if I came to the hospital? To see you… in person?
Kana's lips parted slightly, and her heartbeat quickened. Her fingers curled into the fabric of her blanket. No one had ever asked her that before. Not like this. Not someone who didn't have to come.
And especially not someone like John.