From where he stood, Sabriel could see everything: the tree, the large crowd of people surrounding it, the skating rink adjacent to it. Behind him sat the snowball fight field, and he could hear the screaming laughter that accompanied that kind of freezing joy.
He'd taken pictures instead of joining in. He didn't know how to—even among people he knew, he felt as if he were outside, looking through a window, unable to access the joy surrounding him.
His camera was strung over his shoulder, and in his gloved hands, he held a cup of coffee to keep him awake and warm. The sun had set; above him, the sky was a swallowing dark, and the park was lit up by its own Christmas lights. Because of the dark, there was a slight tug inside his chest as his body begged please—but Sabriel wouldn't allow his bogeyman form to have him. Not in public. Not with so many people around and so much happiness abundant in the air.
Having made a couple ornaments for the tree, Sabriel walked forward, and hoped to find an isolated spot where he could hang the ornaments he made. When he bought them, they were plain silver balls, but he had painted designs on each, rendering them far more festive.
As he went around the tree he saw his photography professor. Sabriel blinked. He hadn't expected to see faculty, even though this event was open to everyone on the island.
"Hi, Professor Faye," he said. He was tall enough that Sabriel had to look up when he spoke to him. "How are you?"
He was trying, mostly, to be polite. Professor Faye never paid him much attention in class—which was fine, especially when Sabriel was late almost every day. Not being paid attention to meant these things weren't noticed. Or so he hoped.
@Kyros
He'd taken pictures instead of joining in. He didn't know how to—even among people he knew, he felt as if he were outside, looking through a window, unable to access the joy surrounding him.
His camera was strung over his shoulder, and in his gloved hands, he held a cup of coffee to keep him awake and warm. The sun had set; above him, the sky was a swallowing dark, and the park was lit up by its own Christmas lights. Because of the dark, there was a slight tug inside his chest as his body begged please—but Sabriel wouldn't allow his bogeyman form to have him. Not in public. Not with so many people around and so much happiness abundant in the air.
Having made a couple ornaments for the tree, Sabriel walked forward, and hoped to find an isolated spot where he could hang the ornaments he made. When he bought them, they were plain silver balls, but he had painted designs on each, rendering them far more festive.
As he went around the tree he saw his photography professor. Sabriel blinked. He hadn't expected to see faculty, even though this event was open to everyone on the island.
"Hi, Professor Faye," he said. He was tall enough that Sabriel had to look up when he spoke to him. "How are you?"
He was trying, mostly, to be polite. Professor Faye never paid him much attention in class—which was fine, especially when Sabriel was late almost every day. Not being paid attention to meant these things weren't noticed. Or so he hoped.
@Kyros