Stella who was 15 stood at the edge of Shakley's town square, her breath visible in the frigid air as snowflakes danced down from the overcast sky. She watched as Max tossed a snowball at a giggling group of kids, his laughter ringing bright and clear, making her heart flutter despite the chilly winter breeze. He had always known how to draw a smile from her; their friendship formed a tapestry of shared jokes, secrets whispered in the dark, and countless memories that spanned their years growing up together.

    But this winter, there lingered a heavy weight within her, a snowstorm of feelings that she couldn't quite shake. She tucked her short brown hair behind her ear, letting her bright green eyes, which seemed to shimmer with a blue tint in the soft winter light, drift back toward Max. It hurt to see him so carefree, especially when he couldn't—or wouldn’t—see her in the same way.

    “Hey, Stella!” Will called out, pulling her back to the present. Her younger brother, just 13 and full of the grounded wisdom that only a best friend could provide, had joined her, clutching a half-finished snowman he was crafting. His brown hair was tousled by the wind, and his infectious grin reminded her of long afternoons spent building forts and sharing secrets.

    “Yeah?” she replied, forcing a smile.

    “Wanna help me with this masterpiece?” Will motioned to the partially assembled snowman, a comical figure that seemed to lack a proper nose. "It needs an upgrade."

    Stella laughed, genuinely this time. “Sure, but I think it might need a carrot, not a paper clip for a nose.”

    They knelt in the snow, side by side, molding the frosty flakes together into a figure that could only be described as charmingly awkward. While Will discussed snowman fashion—the merits of scarf colors versus hats—Stella’s mind drifted back to Max. She had once believed that the world was full of possibilities and that those possibilities might include a future where she and Max were more than friends. But that was before Addy.