December 24, 1917

She watched the small dance floor of the house become fuller. She watched the ball gowns swish among the feet of ladies and the men stand strong and lead them. She watched as the lights made the parlor’s wooden floor twinkle. Mistletoe hung in corners almost invisible waiting for someone to be caught underneath it.

Someone played a piano near bye but she couldn’t spot where. The tune was slow yet had an air of Christmas to it. She watched the flame flicker on the small Christmas tree. It was beautiful and she sat out of it. Obeying her mother’s words to sit and look beautiful and not to mingle with the guest.

‘Let a man come to you,’ her mother had told her. So she looked out at the crowd and turned her eyes to the frosted window near her. The snow flakes fluttered down and stuck to the glass. The home she was in was unfamiliar to her.

She had never really been in it, she had heard of the Cullen’s parties, but this was the first time she was allowed to actually go. Her mother praying she would meet a bachelor.

Isabella wasn’t interested in it at all. She listened to her mother and tried her best to look beautiful even though she felt far from it. The music picked a faster tempo and happier holiday tune.

She smiled at the music and could imagine gentle fingers flowing over the ivory keys. The piano had always been her favorite instrument. It was so beautiful and made such lovely sounds. She loved to drag her fingers over the white keys and feel the smoothness underneath her finger tips.

Stroking the mahogany wood and trying to play a simple tune. Isabella was never really good at it but she loved it none the less.

“Would you care to dance?” a soft voice asked and Isabella was brought out of her thoughts as she looked at the young gentleman. He looked no older than her age. Perhaps a couple years her senior. But she couldn’t tell.

Handsome, he was. His shaggy red hair and glowing green eyes that made her nod her head to his question. A stunning smile lit his face and he offered her hand as he led her to the dance floor.