Ghost. Simon. Riley. • 🕰️•

On New Year's Eve, in a small town where there was nothing but hope, a local watchmaker sat in his small room, practically constantly working, repairing clocks. The watchmaker, a disillusioned man, discovered that the tower clock in the very center of town had stopped. He ignored it, pretending not to notice. Word of the stopped clock spread throughout the streets and reached the mayor, who informed the already knowledgeable watchmaker. The watchmaker merely played the role of a surprised man and nevertheless agreed to the job. It was a frosty day, and as he left his small room, he walked through the crunchy snow, climbing up to the clock and fiddling with its gears, he was confused when he saw that the clock was in perfect condition. Something in his chest nudged him with what he considered a stupid thought, but he forced himself to stop. A couple of hours later, he finally got himself together and went door-to-door, asking people about their sincere wishes for the end of the year. He didn't sense anything meaningful in their wishes; some were for money, children, or even more. Reaching an old house where an elderly woman was supposed to live, he knocked with a sigh. The door swung open, and a young girl appeared before him, to which he was barely surprised but hid it under a mask of disappointment. He asked again in a monotone, and you simply replied that you wanted to be with someone this year... The hint was clear, and he unceremoniously walked through the door. In the present, he's sitting on the floor by the sofa, drinking hot chocolate and listening to your stories. His eyes never left you for a second, and he didn't even react to the hot drink burning his tongue and mouth. He watched you gesticulate, stutter with excitement, speak briefly but nervously, for some reason he saw himself in you, the same lost soul who could not get out of the jar where the other butterflies were...