Snow on the New Year's Eve

Today is New Year's Eve. The weather forecast says tonight will bring the first snow of the year. Wendy Scott and I have an agreement. Every year, when the first snow falls, we stay up together, build a silly snowman, and share a bowl of hot soup. To keep this promise, I left work two hours early. I carefully selected the freshest ingredients at the market. I simmered the sweet and sour ribs she loves for an entire hour. The mushroom soup bubbling in the clay pot steamed hot. On the table, her favorite white porcelain bowls were set neatly, with chopsticks perfectly arranged. The sky outside slowly darkened. Streetlights lit up, casting warm halos of yellow light. I glanced at my phone. It was 7:30 p.m. Wendy Scott still hadn't come back. I didn't call; I was afraid she was busy. I just covered all the dishes and sat on the sofa, waiting. The TV was on, but there was nothing worth watching. My eyes kept drifting, almost involuntarily, toward the door. At exactly eight o'clock, the phone rang. It was Wendy. I answered almost immediately. "Eric, I'm sorry." Her voice was tinged with apology, with faint background noise. "The company suddenly requires overtime, it's really busy. I might not get home until very late." I tightened my grip on the phone. "Overtime? Have you eaten dinner yet?" "Not yet, too busy, I couldn't spare the time." She smiled, "Don't wait for me, go ahead and eat." "First snow..." I wanted to remind her of our promise. "Ah, wait until I get home and make it up to you, okay?" She cut me off, her tone playful, "No more talking, the boss is calling me. Bye." The call ended abruptly. I stared at the screen as it went dark; my heart felt strangely empty. But then I reminded myself, she's working for a reason too. The wind outside began to pick up. I walked to the window and cracked it open slightly. Tiny snowflakes were drifting slowly down from the sky. The first snow— it really had come. I didn't want her to go hungry. I found an insulated container and packed the sweet and sour ribs along with mushroom soup inside. I also grabbed one of her thick coats and wrapped it around myself. I went downstairs and started the car. The snow was falling heavier and heavier. Frost quickly fogged up the car window. I drove slowly with the windshield wipers on. Wendy Scott's company is located in an office building downtown. Usually, at this hour, there wouldn't be many people around the office building. But today was different. In the small plaza next to the office building, I saw two figures. I slowed the car down.