Lora smiled softly to herself as she watched the snow fall through the big glass windows in her room. It was a large room. The walls were a bright yellow, chosen by Lora's mother, the furniture was all white; the window seat Lora sat upon, the uncomfortable chaise lounge, the bed. Everything was as it should've been. All that perfection, yet Lora was instead gazing out of the window at the beautiful, glistening snow.
Winter had always been her favourite season. Maybe it was the bitter cold that kept her parents inside the house instead off at work. Or maybe, it was the warmth provided in the stead of the cold that she felt when she sat by the fireplace in the corner of her room.
It was Christmas Eve, the supposed coldest night of the year. Lora felt warm, though. Not because of the crackling fireplace; the only light-source warming the room with its glow. What kept her warm was the excitement she felt. Her family never hosted Christmas, nor did they attend, but that year they were. Everyone was supposed to come over the next morning.
Lora could already hear her younger cousin's laugher fill the cold halls. She could smell the scent of her mother using her talents in the kitchen for Christmas Dinner instead of her restaurant.
She couldn't wait to be building snowmen in the front yard while snowballs would fly her way. Lora was craving family cheer.
"Happy Christmas," She whispered to herself, her breath fogging the glass in front of her. And in that moment, Lora wished she wasn't alone.
Like a miracle, her phone pinged loudly. Lora jumped, her heart rate sped up, and her hand flew to her chest, "Jesus!"
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(XXX) XXX-XXXX -- Hey, Lora. Hope you have a lovely Christmas Eve!
(xxx) xxx-xxxx-- Hello. Um ... Who is this?
(XXX) XXX-XXXX -- Your FBI agent. Duh.
(xxx) xxx-xxxx -- Hahaha, What?
(XXX) XXX-XXXX -- I figured you may be in need of my special presence this fine evening.
(xxx) xxx-xxxx -- It's barely 2 o'clock in the afternoon.
(XXX) XXX-XXXX -- All the more reason to make tonight a good one!
(xxx) xxx-xxxx -- Is this some sort of prank? Tom, is that you?
(XXX) XXX-XXXX -- Tom? Who the hell is Tom? What a shite name.
(xxx) xxx-xxxx -- Well, that's not a very nice thing to say about someone you 'don't know'.
(XXX) XXX-XXXX -- I'm serious. I'm not Tom.
(XXX) XXX-XXXX -- You can call me Santa, if you'd like.
(xxx) xxx-xxxx -- Oh? I thought you were 'my FBI agent'.
(XXX) XXX-XXXX -- I serve many purposes! Santa and FBI agents share the same mythical lore.
(xxx) xxx-xxxx -- They most definitely do not.
(XXX) XXX-XXXX -- I was born of the wishes of children and the crimes of man!
(xxx) xxx-xxxx -- I feel like I should block you ...
(XXX) XXX-XXXX -- I feast on the blood of terrorists and joy of babies!
(xxx) xxx-xxxx -- That honestly sounds terrifying.
(XXX) XXX-XXXX -- Terrifying? It should be! The fate of our world hangs in the precarious balance between good and evil.
(xxx) xxx-xxxx -- Look, if you don't tell me who this is I will block you.
(XXX) XXX-XXXX -- Why do you need to know so badly?
(xxx) xxx-xxxx -- Because this has prank written all over it and I'd like to not waste my time.
(XXX) XXX-XXXX -- This isn't a prank. But, I'd appreciate staying anonymous for the time being if that's alright.
(xxx) xxx-xxxx -- Whatever. Do what you like.
(XXX) XXX-XXXX -- I'd like to keep talking to you.
Lora's stomach flipped involuntarily when her phone buzzed and she received the message. They'd been talking for mere minutes, but it felt like time had stood still. She had had suspicions at first, but she was growing to get used to the thought of chatting with a random stranger.
Even if all she did was share smalltalk about Santa and FBI agents through the winter holidays, Lora figured she had nothing better to do. She unlocked her phone and her thumbs hovered over the keys for a moment before she began to type again.
