New Year

Legend says, if two people were to kiss at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Day they would live happily ever after...

Times Square, New York, USA

8 minutes, 34 seconds and counting...

She could see her breath come out in clouds as she tried to bring some warmth to her chilly fingers whilst rubbing them together vigorously. Grumbling out how stupid she was for leaving her gloves at home.

8 minutes, 7 seconds...

Thinking that she could stay warmer by moving deeper into the crowd, she slowly starts forward. Slightly pushing her way in, she navigates through people with the occasional bump here and there.

7 minutes, 12 seconds...

She stumbles forward, mentally berating herself for subjecting herself to this torture. She really shouldn't be out on this cold winter night just to watch a ball of light drop, marking the start of the new year. But still, every year she finds herself in the same exact position. Cold, tired, and alone.

6 minutes, 44 seconds...

The people were starting to get rowdy now as it was nearing midnight. The sound of little trumpets being blown right next to her ear, mixed with the music blaring from the speakers around the square, was starting to give her a headache. She trudges on, hoping to get a better spot to see the stage.

4 minutes, 16 seconds...

She blames her mother. She shouldn't have fed her mind at such a young age with notions of true love and happily-ever-afters. Though it's still partially her fault for never truly growing out of believing such childish fantasies.

3 minutes, 54 seconds...

Stopping at where she feels is the heart of the crowd, she looks up at the screen. She finds herself lost in thought as the clock, being shown in bright red font, continues it's countdown. The people around her start to yell, to chant, to sing. But she blocks them all out and focuses on the moving numbers.

1 minute, 34 seconds...

Wondering if this year would finally be different, she looks around the crowd. She hopes to see a familiar face. She's been hoping for years now. No, not hoping, more like yearning. Yes, that's it, yearning. She looks and looks and looks...and looks.

59 seconds...

Now she really wishes she shouldn't have come. She shouldn't be thinking of what-ifs and what-could-have-beens either. She's here to start anew, to face the new year with a clean slate. Yet she could feel a tightening in her chest.

28 seconds...

She starts to tear up now and wishes that next New Year's Eve will be better. That somehow she'll finally stop believing...stop yearning. That she'll finally grow up and face reality. She knows she's lying to herself. She furiously brushes off the tears, embarrassed that she let herself get like this.

10 seconds left...

Sighing deeply, she makes towards home. She thinks of sleep and how much comfort it would offer.

3...2...

A hand latches itself onto her wrist and pulls her into a warm embrace. Momentarily dazed, she looks up.

1...

Then fireworks.

End.