She knew her mother thought her decision to spend Christmas alone meant she would be weeping in bed, cuddled up in one of Damian’s shirts, but Cosima still intended to have a full Christmas experience. She was looking forward to being able to spend Christmas on her own terms. She wouldn’t have to consider anyone else’s plans and would be free to snuggle in her favorite onesie while she watched the only two Home Alone movies that counted before settling in with a good Christmas meal and a holiday-themed romance novel. It mightn’t be the ideal Christmas for everyone, but Cosima was almost giddy with excitement at being able to spend Christmas in a way Damian had refused to on at least two occasions.

Cosima’s stomach grumbled, reminding her she hadn’t eaten much that day, only picking at snacks while she lost herself in the beautiful words of her friend and client Navaya’s latest novel. She crossed the small distance from the nook overlooking her apartment’s courtyard, where she’d set up a desk so she could have a workspace that let the light in. She rummaged through the fridge, knowing that although she had all the ingredients needed to create a tasty, filling meal, she’d much rather have someone else do the heavy lifting. It didn’t take long for her to decide she was going to order food but figured at the last minute that it might be good for her to leave the apartment since she’d been holed up there all day while she finished her copyedits. She decided on her favorite restaurant in downtown Silver Spring, a family-owned place known for its amazing crab cakes and hearty sides. The crab cakes were good enough to fight over, but Cosima was looking forward to getting her mouth on their baked macaroni and cheese.

She took her time getting ready, lingering under the steamy shower, lathering her coconut-scented body wash, which always left her skin feeling super luxurious. She donned her favorite pair of black jeans with a deep green knit sweater that never failed to keep her warm but also made her feel confident and sexy. Cosima checked herself in her hallway mirror, approving her fit before grabbing her boots from the hall closet along with her coat.

Cosima was one of those people who actively enjoyed winter. She enjoyed how quickly it got dark, she enjoyed the way she was able to bundle up, and she enjoyed the chill. She wasn’t sure if it was because it fell in the middle of her favorite season, but Christmas was hands down Cosima’s favorite holiday of the year, and she wasn’t shy about making sure everybody knew how much she loved all of it: the coziness, the lights, the music, the feeling of optimism that seemed to hang in the air.