[Snowman] falling

1997 11 Month 26 Day.

Mathias is busy with work, while Alice has to study hard, and the two don't spend much time together.

This is a relationship between lovers and friends, and the word "elder" may be added-although I don't want to admit it, but Mathias is 11 years older than Alice, and he will tutor her in her studies like his mother, Encourage her, care for her, and criticize her. If Alice didn't like Mathias, maybe she would be happy to let him be her stepfather.

In the coffee shop, Alice's fingertips were sliding on the rim of the porcelain coffee cup. She was stunned for two seconds and then sighed.

This is Alice's No. 13 sigh today.

Madia looked at her with worried eyes. The girl seemed to have just crawled out of endless homework, and the black and blue under her eyes could not be concealed.

"What's the matter?" Mathias finally asked.

Alice moved the corners of her mouth, then lowered her head to stare at her fingertips for a while.

"Alice?" Mathias couldn't help being even more puzzled.

"Well," she said, clearing her throat, "I'd like to invite you, Mattia, to come over to my house and spend Christmas with me, and of course, my mother."

Mathias couldn't help laughing, "You're just sighing because of this?"

Alice pursed her mouth aggrieved, "I'm not sure if you will agree, Christmas is spent with the family."

The implication is that although I have already decided to invite him to spend Christmas together, I feel uncertain because the last confession was not completely successful.

Mathias sighed, feeling that there was nothing he could do about her.

"I promise," he said.

"Really?!" Alice sat up straight in an instant, and returned to her energetic appearance, "That's great!"

After finishing speaking, she frowned and smiled, revealing two dimples.

Mathias didn't know what to say for a moment.

After a while, the young man stretched out his finger and flicked the ceramic cup in front of Alice. The body of the cup made a "ding" sound, and the coffee in the cup swayed like waves, shattering the girl's eyes reflected in the cup.

"What's with the black eye?"

Alice let out an "ah" in surprise, "Is it serious?"

Mathias said nothing, just looked at her.

"Okay." She bowed her head in resignation, "I've been a little busy recently, and the time to relax and read has been moved to night."

"You should pay more attention to your body, Alice." Mathia suddenly felt like a father, "I don't think I need to teach you how to make the right choice?"

Alice was keenly aware of the threatening element in Mathia's words, she shrugged her shoulders subconsciously, "I was wrong, doctor."

Mathias laughed again, "Pay attention to rest." He said so.

Fifteen days until Christmas.

Alice put down the calendar and scanned the room.

Her mother, Stephanie, was comfortably nestling on the sofa reading a book at the moment, Alice ran to sit next to her, and was stunned.

Stephanie couldn't help feeling puzzled.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

Alice said, "Matia has promised to spend Christmas with me."

Stephanie sighed resignedly. "I've known about this for a week, honey—you told me yourself."

"I'm just nervous, Mom." Alice bit her lip, "It's Christmas after all!"

The first threesome Christmas after Dad died.

She felt trembling just thinking about it.

Stephanie put down her book and met her eyes. "Relax, my Alice," she said. "It's all right—he said yes, didn't he?"

"Yeah." Alice nodded, "I know."

"But I'm curious, honey," Stephanie paused, "why did you choose him?"

Alice's face changed slightly, "I don't love my father, Mom."

Stephanie motioned for her to continue.

"Matia is a good man to me, that's all."

"Even if you hate doctors?"

Alice laughed out loud, and she blushed a little, "Mom! This was all a few years ago."

Stephanie showed a gentle expression, "I still remember, Alice who was afraid of doctors - impressive, isn't it?"

Standing up, Alice cleared her throat, "I still have a paper to finish."

The girl obviously didn't want to waste time on the subject.

Stephanie looked at her with a smile.

"Really?" she asked. "Then who was the one who happily ran up to me last night and said they finally solved the paper?"

Alice fell silent for a moment.

There are seven days until Christmas.

Alice sat in the classroom bored and waited for school to be over.

She turned her pen, and it was rare that she didn't go to listen to the teacher's lecture.

Later she has to go to the supermarket to buy some potatoes and some hard candies.

Potatoes are used to make salads for dinner, and hard candies are a necessity of life.

Alice always had a few candies with her--she had a problem with hypoglycemia, and the girl hated chocolate, though it would have worked better.

Alice glanced out of the window. Bergen, which was raining, always made her uncomfortable.

When she thought that she was going to walk into the rain later, she felt chills all over her body.

Alice curled her lips, and her eyes returned to the textbook, but she stopped turning her pen.

There are still four days until Christmas.

Mathias made a cup of coffee and planned to sit comfortably in the high-backed chair and read a book to pass the time.

This book was stuffed to him by Alice a few days ago.

When I opened it, I saw a line written on the title page: It is winter now.

Mattia couldn't help laughing.

The girl was imitating his handwriting again.

He turned a page, intending to continue to look down, but couldn't help thinking about how he should return the gift

After a while, Mathias decided on what to give.

It was winter, and Alice didn't like wearing scarves, so for her health, I gave her a scarf.

Alice has always listened to him, always urged, she will get rid of this bad habit.

After lightly rubbing the spine of the book a few times with her fingertips, Mathias turned another page and gradually immersed herself in the book.

"Alice, you don't have to be afraid of the rain," said the father. "You know why?"

The young girl replied: "Because there are papa and mama."

Li shook his head, "Because you have an umbrella in your hand, dear."

Alice frowned, not quite understanding what her father meant.

"You have to learn to hold up an umbrella to protect yourself from the wind and rain." The father reached out and touched her head, "My mother and I can only lead you for a while, and you will live alone in the longer term. .”

"Are you going to abandon me?"

Lee laughed, "No." He went on, "We will always love you."

"Then don't leave me."

The father just looked at her with a smile and didn't say a word.

There are three days until Christmas.

Mathias sat on a park bench and waited for Alice.

The girl went around quietly, put her arms around his neck from behind, and bent down to hold his hand.

"Are you surprised?"

"I guess it was a shock." Mathias turned his head, "Your hands are so cold."

Alice smiled, let go of her arms, and sat next to Mathias.

"I thought you'd be happy."

"Happy?" Mattia asked back, "Because you came early?"

"Is not it?"

Mathias laughed and looked very happy, as if he were still a student.

"I'm very happy," he said.

Alice blinked, "You don't seem like a friendless person, Mathias."

"I have friends," said Mathias.

Alice was surprised to find that when he said this, his tone was exactly the same as when he said "I just finished eating". She couldn't help frowning slightly, but in the end she didn't ask anything.

"Me too." Alice smiled sideways at him, "How long are we going to sit here?"

Mathias thought for a moment: "Until dusk?"

"Dr. Luhaisen, what if I catch a cold?"

"I brought a scarf." Mathias handed the paper bag beside her to Alice, motioning for her to open it.

This is a silver and green scarf that fits Alice very well.

"I like it very much." Alice laughed, "but can I not wear it?"

Mattia didn't speak.

Alice pouted, "Okay, I'll wear it."

"This is not a Christmas present, Alice," Mathias emphasized.

"I'm not at all curious about what Christmas presents are," Alice said. "I'm just looking forward to it."

Mathias couldn't help laughing and reached out to rub her hair.

"I'm looking forward to it too." Mattia replied softly.

These are his sincere words - on this snowy afternoon, he has said too many truthful words.

"Before, I mean long ago, how did you spend Christmas?"

Mathias thought for a while, "I will build a snowman in front of the house, use black pebbles as the mouth, then run back to the house, sit on the sofa and wait for my father and mother to come home."

"I will swing on the swing in the yard first, and after ten minutes, my mother will call me off the swing, and when I go back to the house, I can see my father standing by the window watching me play," Aliceton said. After a pause, he continued, "In the end, I will close my eyes and make a wish that I will become a policeman in the future—in order to work with my father."

"You have a good mother," said Mathias.

Alice was keenly aware of Mattia's sighing tone, and she went to shake his hand, which was warm, but her fingertips were slightly cold.

"How about we build a snowman this Christmas?"

Mathias took her hand back.

"Perhaps I can push the swing for you?"

Alice nodded, and repeated the sentence again: "I'm looking forward to it!"

There are still two days until Christmas.

Alice was staring at the cookies that were about to come out of the oven.

There was a "ding" sound, and she hurriedly put on her gloves to pick up the baking tray.

Great, it worked!

Putting down the baking tray, Alice excitedly ran to call Stephanie so that her mother could share the joy with her.

Stephanie followed her daughter to the kitchen and saw the plate of matcha cookies shaped like a Christmas wreath.

"It's great!" Stephanie said, picking up a piece and taking a bite, "It's just a little, a little sweet."

Alice picked up a piece upon hearing this, and sighed in disappointment after swallowing it, obviously agreeing with her mother's words.

But she quickly cheered up, "This is considered progress, at least the pattern is successful."

Stephanie looked at this plate of cookies, and then thought of the other failed plates lying in the trash can, and couldn't help but sigh, "Why do you have to make cookies?"

Alice turned her head sideways.

"It's not difficult to preserve, it tastes good, and it's easy to carry around." She smiled, "I don't think Dr. Lu Haisen will refuse my kindness to have some sweets after work."

Stephanie wanted to say something, but didn't.

"I must go to the garden," she said.

Alice nodded indifferently, turned around and continued to fight with flour and butter.

There is one more day until Christmas.

Mathias closed the book Alice had given him and put it on the coffee table.

He took a sip of his coffee, really wondering why this lively girl likes to read the Cthulhu Mythos—although Mathias was not interested in it, under Alice's strong recommendation, he still read every single word of the book It was over--Alice would be delighted for days, Mathias knew that very well.

Frankly speaking, Mathias was looking forward to tomorrow, and for a moment he thought, if only today were Christmas.It was a childish fantasy, and Mathias laughed when he realized the thought, as if he had heard a very amusing joke.

Mathias has a joke ranking. Friessen's "Father Mathias" has always been at the top of the list, but now, "Matias is like a child" successfully beat the others and ranked second.

Matthias had an unhappy childhood, so unpleasant that he lost his sense of humor.

Even in that winter many years ago, when he watched his mother and the car sink into the frozen lake, he didn't feel the slightest pleasure.

This filthy woman who was about to abandon her father, crying and begging her lover to take her with her, this woman who gave birth to him with a fatal genetic disease - her father had been begging her to stay, and herself, if she hadn't cheated on her, He would be the real father's son, not the blood of the man born with a genetic disease.

Damn her.

He would die, too—of that excruciating disease.

Madia didn't sigh, but just stared at the "Cthulhu Mythos" on the coffee table.

"It's winter now," the girl wrote.

Mattia smiled.

Yes, it is winter now.

Mathias couldn't say whether he liked winter or not, but he always remembered one thing.

Tomorrow was Christmas—the Christmas that the girl had been looking forward to.

December 1997, 12, Christmas Eve.

Alice, 19, opened the window in her bedroom, and the cold wind lifted the curtains, making her shiver.

The weather is fine today, it is snowing, and it is not raining.

She looked down and saw her mother standing in front of the flowerbed.

Alice blinked, closed the window, and went downstairs.

Instead of looking for Stephanie in the flower garden, she went to the kitchen to make breakfast.

When Alice brought the prepared breakfast to the table, Stephanie pushed the door open and entered.

"How are the flowers today?"

"Oh!" Stephanie smiled, "Very good."

They all knew that roses would not bloom in winter.But Stephanie's visit to the flower garden is not just to take care of the flowers and plants - this is the rose garden that Lee has taken care of. Although he has gone to see the heavenly father, Stephanie firmly believes that in this flower garden that has poured his heart and soul , hiding the soul of her husband.

Alice scoffed at Stefani's vision at first, but had to agree it was a good way to ease her grief.Today, taking care of the flower garden has become Stephanie's habit, and Alice has to admire her mother's persistence.

Alice had been avoiding the fact of her father's death for a long time, as if forgetting it would make it impossible, but Stephanie never escaped.She watched and took care of the flower garden every day, turned around and lived stronger.

Stephanie was a good mother, Alice believed so deeply and loved her so much.

"I like Christmas," said Alice.

Stephanie sliced ​​the omelette, "I thought you'd be more excited—after all, Dr. Luhyson will be at our house at two o'clock in the afternoon."

Alice was silent for a moment. "I always thought you would object, Mum."

"What kind of person do you think Dr. Lu Haisen is?"

"He's fine," said Alice.

"That's enough." Stephanie smiled at her daughter.

Alice understood her meaning in an instant.

"I thought you'd think he was too old." Alice blinked and changed the subject quickly. "Matia is thirty—maybe I can call him uncle?"

Stephanie immediately laughed.

"Honey, I don't think you'd like it."

Alice turned her head sideways, not expressing any opinion on this.

Mathias caught sight of the girl at once—she was sitting on a swing in a silver-green scarf and was waving to him.

Mathias couldn't help showing a smile, and the next moment, the girl jumped off the swing and ran towards him.

After being dazed for a few seconds, Mathias always felt that their meeting was miraculous—she always liked to run to him, no matter how close or far he was to her.

Mathias thought, this is a girl who is too persistent.

"Why don't you wait at home?"

Alice turned her head and smiled, "You can't go back on your promise to push the swing."

Mathias sighed helplessly, lifted the paper bag in his hand, and signaled to her, "It's my first visit, I'll be rude if I'm late."

Alice looked down at her watch, and it was ten minutes to two, "The swing can't run." She nodded and led Mathias into the house.

Stephanie was sitting on the sofa reading a book when she heard the door open and looked up.

She looks eighty percent similar to Alice, but the color of her eyes is different.Alice has dark eyes, Stephanie has light brown eyes.

Stephanie is undoubtedly an easy-going person, and Mathia is also well versed in the way of dialogue. Although the two did not have a good conversation, they also had a harmonious atmosphere.

Alice breathed a sigh of relief and gradually relaxed.

Although Stephanie will fully respect her wishes, Alice still hopes that her mother can recognize Mattia. Now her worries are superfluous. Mattia and her mother get along well. This realization makes Alice laugh stand up.

"Do you eat cookies?" Alice leaned over and asked, "Matcha cookies."

Stephanie cheers, "Oh, I love that!"

Alice shifted her gaze to Mathias.

"Yes," he said.

Alice raised the corner of her lips, and a plate of cookies came from the kitchen within a short while.

It is in the shape of a Christmas wreath.

"How is it? Is it delicious?" Alice stared at Madia expectantly.

"I like it very much," said Mathias.

Alice opened her eyes wide in surprise, turned her head and stared at Stephanie for a few seconds, then stood up, took Mathia's hand and was about to walk out the door.

"Mom, let's go to the garden."

Stephanie shook his head helplessly, "Go."

After watching his daughter and Mathia leave, Stephanie couldn't help picking up a cookie and biting it.

Does it taste really good?Alice really succeeded?

The next moment, Stephanie's face changed slightly.

It's really sweet, even sweeter than last time.

Stephanie couldn't help but start admiring the calm Dr. Lu Haisen.

"The weather is fine today." Alice blinked. "Isn't the cookie just now sweet? But you didn't react at all."

"Everything about Christmas is a surprise," Mathias said.

Alice grabbed his hand, flattened his palm, and put the small bag she took out of her pocket on it.

It is a square box.

"This is the surprise." Alice's eyes brightened, "Your 'everything at Christmas is a surprise theory' almost made it impossible for me to give this real gift." After she finished speaking, she smiled playfully, "Christmas is all about surprises." You shouldn't hate a little bit of mischief, right?"

"I don't hate it." Mathias held up his palm and put the box in his pocket. When he stretched out his hand, there was another exquisite packaging box lying on his palm. "This is also a surprise."

Alice took it, thought for a moment, and told him: "The gift can only be opened tomorrow morning."

"Okay." Mathias agreed.

Alice smiled slyly.

"I'm already looking forward to next year," she said.

"Time will pass quickly."

Alice greatly agreed with this, "Indeed." She nodded again and again, "Dr. Lu Haisen, please toast to our unchanging friendship—this is the third year since we met. It's the fourth year."

Mathias showed a surprised expression quite cooperatively, "It's really shocking."

Alice stretched out her hand to hug his arm, "It's actually hard for me to imagine how many years we will have in the future."

"I don't know," Mathias replied.

Alice was slightly taken aback, "Matia, are you hiding something from me?"

She is sharp.

Perhaps, too sensitive.

Mathias shook his head and changed the subject, "You almost forgot the swing, Alice."

The arm slid down, and Alice touched his fingertips lightly. After realizing that Mathias did not refuse, she took his hand.

"I haven't forgotten!" The girl said slightly, "I also remember your snowman!"

December 1997, 12, Christmas morning.

Opening the box, Mathias found that it was a bag of cookies.

Matcha Cookies.

Mathias picked it up and took a bite, the sweetness was normal.

Mattia laughed.

What a surprise—the perfect surprise after a prank.

He didn't hate the feeling.

There was a note at the bottom of the box, and Mathias couldn't help laughing when he opened it.

The note said: Next year, we will neither swing nor build snowmen. I want to spend Christmas Eve with you and my mother again.What do you think of the idea, sir?

On the next line, Alice's reply in imitation of his handwriting: I promise.

Mathias fingertips lightly rubbed the sticky note.

"I promise." He murmured.