We walked hand in hand Our last winter stroll you withstand.

A former silhouette you have become To death you must soon succumb.

A golden broach you hand me to treasure When I can’t have you, you say it will be my only pleasure.

I always have trouble sleeping at night. In summer it’s a little easier, the world seems to keep moving no matter what time of the day or night it may be. But in winter there is something about it, maybe just the silence that for me becomes too much to handle, but the world seems to go into hibernation. My 70 plus years on this planet have always been busy ones, full of noise and people, but now as time has gone by there isn’t a lot of my people left. Right up until a few years ago you would have found me and my wife down at the pub on a night like this one, keeping warm with a drink in hand laughing along to the friends we had. But now as she is no longer around I take these winter strolls alone.

I often think back to my wife as I walk alone. She hadn’t died I don’t want you to get me wrong, she just isn’t here anymore. The home where she now lives because of the 24 hour care they give is the best place for her. It saddens me every time I see her, a little bit more of her has faded away. A silhouette of her former self.

I went to see her this afternoon and I could tell that she knew the end was coming. She gave me something that she has kept ever since her grandmother had given it to her back when she was a child. The golden brooch brings a small weight to my pocket and I place my hand in to run my old cracked thumb over the top. My wife isn’t or wasn’t one to collect things, she didn’t have expensive taste or spend money on pointless things. But she loved this brooch. The fact that she gave me it today means that I know that she won’t be around tomorrow.

Your silhouette glimmers in the moonlight, It's just us, here under a duvet of obsidian midnight. The rest of the world sleeps and slumbers the seconds away, Awaiting the newness and possibility of tomorrow's day.

We enjoy a crispy winter evening stroll, Releasing lives before, feelings that have taken such a toll. You spy my golden elephant brooch, the one my grandmother gave me, At that you smile, enchanted, your aura winks sweetly.

Above, the diamonds glitter and they glow, Twinkling stars shimmer, reflected in the icy snow. The scent of pine and cinnamon scurrying all around, Unbelievable, this burning emotion we have found.

In you I have discovered my greatest soul mirror, Tangled in our golden rope, I'll always keep you near.

Snow drifted across the road, swirling in the air like tiny diamonds. Through the haze, hues of orange, pink, and yellow filled with sky as the sun set over the trees on the horizon. Streaks of dark purple, like bolts of lightning, arched through the clouds. Ice icicles clung to rooftops, crackling with caught light.

“Are you sure you wanted to go on a winter stroll?” Simon asked. His voice was muffled as he came up beside me. An oversized scarf Nanna had crocheted for him wrapped around his face not once, not twice, but three times! His slouchy hat covered his ears and forehead so that only the tiniest sliver of his face was visible. His oceanic eyes stared at her. “It’s too c-c-cold for this.”

I shake my head and laugh at him. “When was the last time we ever just took it all in?” I asked, throwing my head back and staring up into the twilight sky. “Look how beautiful the world is. And to think we could have missed all of this,” I wave my hand across the space in front of us, “just because it’s cold.”

Even without being able to see his lips, I know he’s glowering at me. Sighing, I place a gloved hand on his shoulder. “Fine,” I say. “Come on. We can go home.”

I turn to head back when a silhouette of a woman standing in the window of the house next to us catches my eye. She stares back at me as I gaze at her.

“What are you staring at?” Simon asks. He punches me in the arm. “Come on. I want to go home.”

I stand, transfixed as the woman remains motionless.

“Do you see her?” I raise my hand to point, but think better of the gesture. What if she hasn’t noticed me yet?

Simon glanced towards the house. “There’s no one there,” he said. “Remember what mom said. No one has lived there for years.”

“But there’s someone in there,” I say again.

He leans forward to scan the front of the house and squints. “Yeah. I still don’t see anything,” he says.

I chew on my bottom lip. He sounds so convinced that there’s no one there, but my eyes and mind refuse to accept that. There is someone there. I know it.

I charge forward, ignoring his shouts to come back. When I reach the door, I turn back and stick my tongue out at him. If he wants to be a sissy, then let him.

Without hesitation, I rap on the door. Wind whistles through the tree in the front yard, sending a shiver down my spine.

But no one answers.

I knock again.

“Sam, please!” Simon grumbles. “I really don’t think you should be bothering—“

I twist the handle and shove the unlocked door open. Smirking, I turn back to him and shrug.

“Hello?” I hello. “Hello?” I elongate the word, hoping someone will heed my call.

I step into the room where the silhouette had been, but there is only darkness and the faint musty smell of a place that’s sat vacant for too long.

Footsteps crunch behind me. I whirl around, certain I’ve finally found her. But it’s only my brother, Simon. He holds out his hand to, a golden brooch clutched in his palm.

“She told me to give this to you,” he said, letting the small token drop into my hand.

I inspect the brooch carefully. There, engraved into the metal are a set of initials and a date: E. B. L. 1876.

“Who gave this to you?” I ask, turning to Simon.

“The lady in white.”

Kristin closed and locked the door to her gift shop and tightened her scarf when she realized the temperature had dropped precipitously since she ran out at noon to get lunch for her staff. She had intended to just run to her car, drive home, pour a huge glass of Pinot Noir and settle down for the evening with her new book. However, the moment it took to pause and tie her scarf she made the mistake of looking down the street.

“Oh no.” She sighed and tucked her keys back in her purse and fished out her gloves. “That damn Christmas Market.”

Kristin was not a big fan of Christmas since she lived so far from family, had no husband or kids of her own, and Christmas was a retail nightmare. She was not particularly outgoing except as needed in her store, and yet she knew she had to go put in an appearance at the Market. It was the prudent thing to do as a business owner.

Sighing again, she threw her purse over her shoulder and promised herself that she would only stay ten minutes and POSITIVELY would spend no money on geegaws, and set off to the Market. It was cold but clear and starry and actually a great night for a winter stroll.

She hit the town square, waving to people and stopping every once in a while to,check out the booths just to be neighborly and maybe drum up some business. She had already turned down a gingerbread man, a personalized duck ornament and a hand woven scarf when she stopped dead in front of a stall selling jewelry. The golden brooch was prominently displayed on a stand, and Kristin could not take her eyes off it. She recognized the silhouette carved on the brooch. She had stared at that silhouette almost every day of her childhood.

“Mom.” She mumbled it under her breath.

“Why hello there, young lady. Can I interest you in the pretty piece?” The man in front of her was probably in his 60’s and sported a lovely snow white beard and a jaunty Santa cap. He took the brooch off the display and handed it to her. “Take a closer look. I made that myself and I must say it’s one of my favorites. Truth be told, you look a bit like my model.”

Kristin could only stare at the beautiful piece in her hand.

“How much?” She heard herself say the words before she could stop it.

He looked at her intently. “It is priceless, you know.”

“Well then I can’t....”

“But for you I will set a price you cannot refuse. You must wear it and love it. You know who that is, don’t you?”

Kristin teared up and mutely nodded.

“Give it here.”

The man took the brooch from her and pinned it on her red coat and then simply patted her cheek. “Go along then, Kristin. God bless.”

Kristin turned began to walk to her car, fingering the brooch as she went and overcome with lovely memories. She turned back to wave at the man but when she looked she could find no sign of his stall. Nothing was there at all. Just nothing.

A murder. It was perfect. The perfect time, the perfect place. Only one thing didn’t fit this flawless plan - the victim.

A chilly December morning. The body had been found, floating face-down in the icy depths of the river. The corpse had been so frozen that it was almost impossible to discern its facial features. And when it had been recognised, emotions were divided.

The mayor’s daughter. A horrible woman. Twice times divorced, and three of her previous husbands had died horrible deaths right after legal trouble. And she was a flat-earther. You either loved her or you loathed her. Half the town fell into the latter category.

The murder was exquisite. Not a drop of blood in the snow, no tell tale footprints and the autopsy itself was a mystery. But a fortune was missing from the body.

The Golden Brooch. The town’s pride and joy, the only reassurance that they had any importance in this world. And now it was gone. 50,000 coins worth of glittering gold, as well as a meagre topaz encased in the centre.

For once, this town made national headlines. The Shadow Killer, they called him. Yes, he had murdered before. But those lives were insignificant. Now, half the nation was searching for this monstrosity of a man.

It was three years later that I found it. Hidden between my bedsheets: a brooch so shiny it burned the tips of my eyelashes.

I found her later, leaning against a tree. She watched the sunset, and the pink flames blossomed around her silhouette. I was tempted to smirk. On her breast pocket rested a golden brooch encasing a topaz. “A fake?” I asked. “Both real. Forged the day we were born, two continents apart.” The silence seemed to stretch like a spandex suit. “Why?” I asked finally, when no other words seemed to suffice. “Why do you think?” “The same reason as everybody else.” We walked away.

After all, she was a flat-earther.

I was taking a lovely winter stroll. Snow was starting to fall and I knew I had to get home. No one was there and the falling snow looked so beautiful in the fading light. It was peaceful, until I saw a strange silhouette in the distance. My cursed curiosity got the best of me and I decided to get a closer look. It was a Bernese mountain dog. It was whimpering and shivering. It looked like she was hurt. She noticed me and then started trotting away. I decided to follow her. We stopped in front of a lake that had been frozen over. The dog ran behind a tree and dragged something back in front of me. It was a golden brooch. The brooch was a beautiful flower with a turquoise jewel in the center of it. It looked so familiar, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. I took off towards the house and stopped when I realized the dog was following me. It was still whimpering and I thought maybe I should take her with me to my house and call a vet and see if they can do anything for the dog.

We got into the house and shook off the snow that was on us. “Honey, where did you get that dog,” asked my father. “I found her wandering outside in the woods. She seemed hurt can she stay with us until we find her and owner?” “Fine. What do you have in your hands?” “It’s this golden brooch the dog had found in the woods. It looked really familiar. Do you recognize it?” My father looked at brooch and started to get teary-eyed. He was almost at the point of crying until he said, “Yes I do recognize it. This was your mother’s favorite brooch. Apparently it was a family heirloom. She loved it so much and wanted to give it to you when you were old enough, but then she died. I think you should have it. Keep it safe.” I didn’t know what to say. I was so shocked, “I’ll protect it with my life.” Then we embraced in a hug.

Later that night I brought the brooch up to my room. I opened my closet door and pulled back all of my clothes. Behind them was a secret door. That’s where I kept all of my prized possessions. I have my first place trophies, my father’s first camera and the last gift my mother gave me before she died. It was a small little teddy bear that I loved so much. I put the brooch inside that little room and closed the door.

While I was taking a winter stroll through the park, I saw a very suspicious silhouette of a person walking in a very fast pace away from someone. At first this gave me a weird feeling, even scared me a little and thought what could they be up to. Even though my nerves were telling me to go away I decided to ignore them, as a result curiosity got the best of me. I became more worried but even more intrigued at what was happening as a result I decided to investigate what was happening. Once I got close to them I asked them what are you guys doing?! The suspicious man looked very worried and kept walking away while the man that followed started walking a different direction because he had been seen. Which I thought was very strange however I shrugged off and decided to keep up with the suspicious individual. After that I saw the silhouette of a very famous golden brooch dubbed The stolen Brooch of King Tiger the second. Which had been stolen and had not been seen in years. When he noticed I locked eyes in the brooch he started to run but I was determined to return the brooch to the museum it rightfully belonged to. So I chased off after him getting closer and closer by the second until I was able to tackle him. I wrestled to get the brooch loose but he just wouldn’t let go he kept trying to get away from me but I didn’t give up until i was finally able to get him in a headlock and make him pass out. In which at this point I was very excited and adrenaline was pumping through my whole body, i tried to calm down and think of my next move. Which was to call the cops and report the crimes this man had committed. When the cops came they took the man put him behind bars took the brooch to the rightful place it belonged. And I was dubbed a hero for returning the golden brooch that had been stolen.

The lake of shining waters Frozen Gleaming Reflected light, blinding to those who stroll by I lean over the edge, golden broach in hand It slips Falls down and breaks the icy surface

I was on a winter stroll and I was just coming back from the silhouette with my golden brooch in my hand. Thinking about all the possible ways to make my story perfect. And then, finally, it hit. The golden brooch was in my hand and then I placed it over my sweater. That’s what my story was going to be about. A golden brooch traveling all over, genius.