The world outside was a canvas of white and grey, the kind of bleak winter day that seemed to pull the warmth from everything it touched.

Erica adjusted her scarf against the biting wind as she trudged through the snow-covered park. Her boots crunched over the ice-glazed path, and her breath formed pale clouds in the frosty air. She had walked this path many times, drawn to its stillness when her thoughts became too heavy and she either couldn’t, or didn’t want to, visit her wonder.

The cold didn’t bother her as much as it once had. It was almost comforting now, in a way. Her silver eyes scanned the bare trees, their skeletal branches heavy with snow. A flicker of red caught her attention, and she stopped mid-step. Perched on a low branch just ahead was a cardinal, its vibrant feathers standing out in stark contrast against the white backdrop.

Erica smiled faintly. Cardinals had been one of Jordan’s favorite birds. He used to say their bold color reminded him of her determination. She took a step closer, expecting the bird to dart away as most did, but it didn’t. Instead, it turned its head, its beady black eyes meeting hers with an almost startling intensity.

She froze, her breath hitching.

There was something strangely familiar about the way it watched her, as if it weren’t a bird at all but an old friend sizing her up. The sensation was both unsettling and oddly comforting, like being embraced by a memory she couldn’t quite place. “Hey there,” she murmured, her voice soft enough to avoid startling it.

The cardinal tilted its head, hopping to a lower branch as if to get a better look at her.

Erica’s smile widened, and she crouched slightly, feeling foolish but compelled to stay here with it a little longer. She extended a hand slowly, not expecting it to respond. To her amazement, the bird flitted down from its perch, landing lightly on her outstretched fingers.

The tiny claws barely pricked her glove, but what caught her attention was the faint scent that wafted from its feathers. It was subtle, almost imperceptible—a mix of warm cedarwood and the faintest hint of Jordan’s cologne. Her chest tightened as a lump formed in her throat. She blinked rapidly, staring at the bird as if it might speak.

The cardinal chirped softly, a sound that somehow resonated with her more deeply than it should have. It tilted its head again, its movements oddly human-like, and then hopped to her shoulder. She stifled a laugh at the boldness of it. Jordan had always been the bold one, teasing her while sneaking kisses when he thought no one was looking.

As if sensing her thoughts, the cardinal chirped again and dropped something onto the folds of her scarf. Erica carefully picked up a small, smooth turquoise-colored stone that was no bigger than a dime. Her fingers trembled as she held it up. Jordan enjoyed rock hounding back when he was in college. She still had the jar of the stones he’d collected in a cabinet she couldn’t bear to open.

Tears pricked the corners of her eyes as she whispered, “Jordan?” The cardinal didn’t answer, of course, but it nuzzled briefly against her cheek before leaving. She watched it go, her heart aching yet oddly lighter than before.

The pebble remained warm in her hand, as though it had absorbed his essence. Erica stood there in the snow, staring at the branch where the cardinal had perched. Somehow, she knew. It wasn’t just a bird. It was Jordan, or at least, it was his way of reminding her that he was still with her, even in the dismal whites and blues and greys of winter.

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