From the back of the crowd, a bundled-up Joe watched from his wheelchair, a tear freezing on his cheek. He reached out and squeezed Elias’s hand. The intro had done more than just start a video; it had signaled to the town that even in a hard year, the sparkle hadn't faded.
The intro erupted across the screen. High-definition snowflakes fell in sync with the real ones falling from the sky. The words "Christmas and New Year: A Gift from Joe" shimmered in elegant gold. The crowd gasped in unison. From the back of the crowd, a bundled-up
An hour later, the town square was packed. People stood in the snow, faces lit by the glow of a massive projector screen. Elias’s heart hammered against his ribs. He pressed play. The intro erupted across the screen