Despite the blizzard that had died down the week before, the clouds and the ground still looked the same: soft and white. It was mid-December, as the people in towns were quickly preparing themselves, and the town, in the jolly spirits of Christmas, a day of happiness, bonding, and most importantly, presents.

One woman, however, had other plans.

She wore her coat and scarf, as her waist length orange hair was caught inside the coat, until she quickly took it out. She finished her looks with a colourful and intricately designed beanie made of wool. She also wore a pair of light brown boots, suited for walking through the thick snow. She also wore a pair of gloves, also made of wool and intricately designed. The woman took a deep breath, and opened the front door. She was greeted by falling snowflakes, children at the pavement playing an assortments of fun with the snow, and parents and couples alike walking along. A few cars whizzed left and right, but the street was otherwise empty. The woman's dark brown eyes squinted when there was a slightly strong wind blowing onto her direction, causing her hair to flow along with the wind. She then felt something soft and warm rubbing against her feet. She looked down and smiled.

Her pet dog had grown to what could possibly be the 'teenager' phase, as it barked, wagging its tail and had its front paws on her jeans excitedly. Its black fur and red collar was what made it stand out and recognisable to anyone who laid eyes onto it.

The fact that the dog is also the mascot of the small, quaint town was also saying something.

The woman pet its head, as the dog relished onto the touch of its owner happily. She then walked out, the dog following suit, as she closed the door behind them. She continued walking down, until she reached the pavement. Her dog followed her faithfully, panting, as it lets its tongue out. The small snowflakes quickly stuck themselves onto the woman's coat and beanie, and one even fell onto the dog's tongue, in which the dog quickly responded by shaking its head vigorously. The woman found this funny, as she let out a chuckle, and continued walking down the path, until she heard no noise but the sound of the wind blowing against her ears, as she reached a place where at her left were nothing but birch trees, and her right were the street and more birch trees.

She turned left, as the thick snow was no problem for her or the dog to walk on. The two continued walking through the forest, as if they had been through this path for so long, it felt automatic to know where to go and back. It took a while, and several twists and turns until she finally reached a specific tree.

This tree seemed like a normal birch tree, just like its brothers and sisters around it, if not for its unique heart-shaped carving at its very centre.

Her eyes softened, seeing the carving, as she let the tip of her fingers touch the carving, as her dog wandered off. It was always like this every time Christmas was close, where she would be in seclusion, and her dog would keep watch in case of anyone approaching, due to a promise she had made with her lover years ago.

'Where are you?' She thought sadly, as her eyes were on the brink of tears.

Flashback

"You have to go?" The woman, a younger version of herself, asked a male. The male had a pair of black glasses and black hair that was combed to the side. Both were standing right at the same birch tree the woman will stand on in later years.

Her classmates questioned on why she would date someone that looked nerdy, but apparently the male suits her taste.

Really an unusual woman she was. And she still is.

"Yeah. Scholarship, y'know?" The male replied sadly, as his eyes drooped down. The woman walked towards her lover and hugged him.

"Just. . . Be sure to come back, please?" She pleaded to him. The male hugged back, and let out a small smile. Was it out of happiness? Or sadness? She still wondered what it was.

"I promise I'll come back."

Flashback end

She hadn't realised that her warm tears had already fallen to the snow, and continued dripping down her cheeks, until got into her mouth, letting her taste the strange flavour of her own tears. She hadn't realised that she was on her knees, until her knees felt numb and wet. She hadn't realised that her hands were on her heart, until she felt the same throbbing from her beating heart every single time she came to this place. She hadn't realised that she was even sobbing, until she tasted her own bitter tears, her knees numb and wet, and her heart throbbing. Every single negative feeling was ejected out every time she went here.

Suddenly, her dog barked, followed by a voice.

"Anne?"

She looked at the source of the voice, and saw the same male with the same looks: a pair of black glasses, and the same combed to the side black hair. The male also wore a white fur coat, and the same brand of jeans. Her dog barked eagerly, circling the male.

The woman, Anne, covered her mouth with her hands, her tears changing from drop per drop, to a fountain, as the tears poured down quicker, before she ran towards the male and hugged him tightly, the sheer force enough to bring them both down to the snow.

"I miss you. . . ."

"I miss you too. Told ya I promised ya."