WONDERFUL

An Amber weather warning had transformed this thriving festive city  into a rushed silence that only a sudden dense fog could enforce. Streets that should have had the usual  bustle end of year  bargain hunters were now eerily empty apart from echoing groans of the revellers hungover and looking for directions .Black cabs parked idly along the curbs and the muted glow of traffic lights flickered against the greyness 

Flynn sat on his favorite bench, his sketchbook open on his lap. Across the street, a small cafe was barely visible; his pencil moved easily over the page. He paused, staring down at the half-finished sketch. Each line was a precise and  deliberate  memory.

Flynn sighed, leaning back on the bench.  “Draw your perfect Christmas,” she’d said, handing him his sketchbook with an expectant smile.

An oversized tree decorated to magazine perfection, matching jumpers for the video, and lights from the extravagant outdoor display blinking through the windows

She should have known his pencil wouldn't  move in the direction she craved. Instead, it had wandered back to his grandparents’ house: a tiny, mismatched tree, cards hanging on a string across the wall, and a handmade angel on top that had seen better days but everything was full of warmth and love.

“This isn’t us,” she’d said, laughing awkwardly at the camera. “What is this? Some cheap and tacky Christmas when you were a kid?”

Flynn hadn’t answered. Her reaction had clearly  disappointed him. This perfection  that was stressed every year felt hollow to him as if  he was just another prop for a  social media performance. The guilt made him shiver. Could he have prevented this by insisting on social media free weekends? 

 Flynn wanted something  real away from the glare of Tik Tok and Twitter but she had transformed into a social media butterfly.

Vi shuddered, the fog  had turned her perfectly styled hair into a wild halo of frizz, Damp curls now clung stubbornly against her cheeks. She sighed, lowering her gaze as her fingers tried desperately to find a new hairstyle. Her over tired eyes and pale skin, betraying everything she’d been trying not to feel.

Common sense told her she should have stayed in her hotel room but Vi had suddenly  felt trapped in room 304  with the buzz of the mini-fridge acting as her tell tale heart. She had no idea where she was going or why.

The fog added a beautiful layer to the crisp white houses with their small balconies   matching marble pillars.  Bare trees stood in rows waiting for the first signs of Spring so they could feel alive again. Vi envied their permanence and wondered if she had been made of stronger stuff then she might have weathered her own personal storms in the proper manner.

 Vi found herself yearning for the timeless walk along the River Wear, the beautiful Durham cathedral that remained rebellious to the modernisation that was taking place within the city. 

Vi even pined for that old lift down to the car park in the Milburngate Shopping Center where she’d once had a ridiculous row with Jim over whether she was a true Def Leppard fan due to her being female. That argument had been years ago, back when laughter and passion hadn’t felt so far away.

Vi shook her head, her boots clicking against the pavement. Ahead, the warm glow of a café pierced the gray, a promise of shelter from the cold.

As she quickened her pace, her boot caught on uneven cobblestones, and she stumbled. A hand caught her arm stopping her from falling face down on the cold concrete

Flynn stood, his sketchbook forgotten for the moment. “Are you all right?”

Vi froze, her cheeks coloring as she stared at his blue eyes into “Just testing the sturdiness of the pavement.” she gasped trying for some reason to sound sophisticated against her usual scatterbrained clumsiness 

Flynn smiled faintly. “Looks like it passed.”

 A faint smile tugging at Vi’s lips. “So what are you drawing? The mist? It is rather beautiful. The different layers of grey and white swirling around everything like a cold blanket of silk”

Flynn’s interest was definitely peeked. “I almost wish I was. You’re beautiful…That’s beautiful.” His cheeks flushed with colour

“You’re hot. I mean, would  you like a hot drink? That cafe looks very inviting. You are my hero for saving me from hitting that pavement at top speed”

Flynn smiled at Vi as she nearly fell over again

“I’m Vi by the way.” She mumbled

“Flynn” He cooed softly holding onto her arm

“Like Errol Flynn? Your mother liked her swashbuckling heroes then?.” Vi pushed her a wave of messy hair behind her ear “Very nice.”

The glow of the café lights was soft and inviting, reflecting off the fogged-up windows.Vi unraveled her scarf as they made their way to the table. Flynn placed his sketchbook in  front of him as he sat next to her.

Vi eyed the sketchbook curiously. “So, what were you drawing?”

Flynn glanced at it briefly, then back at her. “ This place. From my memories” Flynn said, tapping the closed sketchbook.

Their coffees arrived, and Vi wrapped her hands around the mug, savoring the warmth.

Flynn leaned back, studying her. “And you?”

Vi hesitated, her gaze dropping to her coffee. “Insomnia.” She glanced up, her lips curving faintly. “ I thought walking through the fog would make me sleepy. I didn't  expect it to feel like the world’s holding its breath.”

Flynn nodded, thoughtful. “Walking through fog feels like  something could be chasing you that can't be  seen, doesn’t it?”

“Or you are hiding in the fog,” Vi murmured, almost to herself.

Flynn watched her carefully, but he didn’t push. Instead, he gestured toward her mug. “At least you’ll have coffee for the journey.”

She laughed softly, the sound breaking through the heaviness in the air. “ To Small comforts.” Vi leaned forward slightly, her curiosity getting the better of her. “So, do you only draw buildings, or do you sketch people too?”

Flynn hesitated, his fingers brushing the edge of the sketchbook. “Not anymore.”

“Why not?”

“Because people don’t like what I see,” Flynn said simply. “This used to be a punk clothing shop. I used to hang out here all the time. I even bought my first leather jacket here. Thought I was going to fight against it all.”

Vi glanced around the space, her eyes tracing the gleaming marble and stylish décor. “I can imagine it. A tiny till metal grills on the walls to hold the t-shirts and accessories. On a Saturday morning the usual crowd would bring this place to life…Sorry I am from Durham I was brought up on heritage and history. I must sound strange.”

Flynn’s fingers brushed the edges of his sketchbook. “Not at all.”

Vi studied him for a moment, then gestured toward the sketchbook. “So can I see?”

Flynn’s expression shifted, his fingers tapping the book as if debating whether to open it . Vi held his gaze, her coffee forgotten. 

The quiet between them deepened, thick with something unspoken. Outside, the fog pressed against the windows, muffling the world beyond, leaving only the two of them in their own small cocoon.

Flynn hesitated for a moment as he studied Vi’s face. It was full of enthusiasm and curiosity. He handed Vi his sketchbook and waited

“These are... incredible,” she murmured. “You make the past so vivid. It's truly beautiful” Vi paused, letting out a deep sigh “My  daughter  lives by the park with her fiancé. When she  was 17 there was this other boyfriend - his bad boy persona was gaining the upper hand on his sweet nerdy side. They hadn't seen each other for  months . I thought it was safe. We came back from our jazz club date night  to a broken glass panel in a door and our daughter…”Vi paused. “The police were eventually called. They found the boyfriend limping and bruised. My daughter had clearly defended herself against unwanted advances and pushed him backwards. Her dad was more worried about reputation and kicked her out.However I found her a flat,” Vi said simply. “Told her I would help out but she had to get a job. She did. Now she’s thriving—career, fiancé, the works. But she wants her dad at the wedding..”

Flynn tilted his head. “I take it her Dad doesn't know about the flat or you two are keeping in touch.”

Vi’s gaze flickered towards the fogged-up window. “ It was going to come out in the speeches anyway.Damn it! I  just wanted to see her settled and confident before I…”

“Leave her father?” Flynn finished her sentence 

Vi glanced at him,  For a moment, the air between them felt warmer, charged

For a moment, neither of them moved . The golden sunbeam lingered, warming their faces willing them to deepen their kiss

Vi leaned back slightly, her breath catching as she glanced at Flynn. “What just happened?”

Flynn smiled faintly, his hand still brushing hers. “I don’t know about you but I have just fallen madly in love with you.”

Vi blinked, her lips curving into an incredulous smile. “You’re impossible, you know that?”

“So I’ve been told,” Flynn said, leaning back with a soft chuckle. He picked up his pencil, spinning it absently between his fingers. “But you’re still sitting here.”

Vi tilted her head, studying him. “Maybe that’s because I have fallen deeply in love with you.”

 The fog still pressed against the glass, thick and unyielding, but somehow it didn’t feel as heavy as before. 

Vi hesitated, her fingers tightening briefly around the rim of her mug. Then she exhaled softly, her shoulders relaxing as she met his gaze. 

“It’s not going to be easy,” Flynn said with a faint smile.

For the first time in what felt like forever, Vi didn’t feel the usual pull of obligation or the weight of expectation. She smiled softly, letting herself linger in the moment.

Flynn tilted his head, his smile warming. “Vivienne,” he whispers thoughtfully as he toyed with a loose strand of her hair, “No one should ever have called you anything else. It's time to see who you really are”

Vi let out a nervous laugh “You keep calling me that, and I might start believing it again.”

“Good,” Flynn winked  gripping her hand tightly  

“As long as you believe in that amazing talent you have. Can I see all of it…the rest of your drawings?” Vi blushed, stumbling over her words.

Flynn stood up pulling Vi gently to her feet. “I will hold you to that.”

“You do know that I heard the words hold you and I definitely would love to..” Vi teased

Vivienne adjusted her scarf as the chill of the London air rugged lightly against her cheeks, the weight she’d carried for so long feeling lighter now.

Flynn walked beside her, his sketchbook tucked under his arm. The streets remained silent, but the space between them buzzed with something alive and unspoken.

Vivienne glanced at him, her voice soft but certain. “ You do realise. No one’s called me Vivienne in years.”

Flynn tilted his head, his lips curving faintly. “No one should have ever stopped.”

She laughed, the sound breaking through the quiet. “You sound like my grandfather. He always said Jim shortened my name because he couldn’t handle it. ‘Vivienne’s too bold for a man like him,’ he used to say.”

Flynn’s hand brushed hers, a deliberate, grounding touch. “Well, your grandfather was right. Vivienne suits you.”

Her heart stuttered at the warmth in his tone. She looked down for a moment, then back at him, her smile soft and radiant. “ I’m finally ready to believe that.

They walked in silence, the world cocooned in mist. Suddenly  a faint breeze stirred. It was warm, carrying the scent of damp earth and something sweet. Above them, the hazy sun began to break through, casting a gentle glow over the street.

Vivienne paused, lifting her face toward the breeze. She closed her eyes as it brushed over her, and for the first time in years, she felt… free.

Flynn stopped beside her, his hand curling around hers. She turned to him, her smile widening.

“Maybe it’s a sign,” she whispered, her voice lighter 

Flynn chuckled softly, his eyes warm. “Maybe.”

 Fog swirled around them as the breeze gave a subtle hint of where they were hearing. Behind them, the mist closed in, erasing their footsteps as though protecting their journey.

Vivienne glanced at Flynn, her fingers tightening briefly around his arm. “This feels… different.”

Flynn squeezed her hand, his voice low but certain. “That’s because it is.”

They walked on together, the hazy sun watching over them,guiding them with its glow illuminating the path ahead of them.

“This..Vivienne whispered, holding onto Flynn. “Is wonderful.”