Chapter 3
Sitting in the passenger seat, Belle watched the landscape passing by. The trees, most of them barren, reached toward the heavily blanketed sky—she hoped that meant it was finally going to snow. They’d gotten a dusting here and there, just enough to create a slushy mush during rush hour. Never enough to actually enjoy or do anything with.
And the forecast had whispered about an approaching storm.
As sad and forlorn as winter usually wound up being, it was by far Belle’s favorite season, reveling in the beauty that most people overlooked. She especially loved the many strands of lights that were strung upon pine trees and bare limbs, outlining windows and tracing rooflines. The way they sparkled and lightened up the night like stars fallen to Earth.
If only society didn’t cons
