Invisible String

The art of trusting

Tw: mentions of abuse and violence
A bone chilling cold stalks the streets. Tufts of snow rain down like white confetti. You can feel the sharp sweetness of a candy cane melting on your tongue, rich smells of hot chocolate wafting through the air. Children gazing at the chimney wistfully, closing their eyes and muttering soft promises under their breath, how they'll be super good this year if they just obtain that shiny red bike. A dreamy haze blankets over people, the city is in an excited frenzy, more than usual. New York holds its breath in preparation to blow a gale of frozen icy wind and knock open the last chocolate door of the calendar. 25th of December, Christmas.

Meanwhile a thirteen-year-old Matt Murdock knocks on his friends apartment, located in the upper west side. "Hi!" Jules blurts "Come in come in!" Jules guides Matt to the kitchen. "Woah, what's that smell?" Matt asks "Ok so here's the thing, I tried to make cakes, the batter didn't turn out just right... but! But! I tried out a simple cookie recipe." Jules lowers her voice to a whisper "They are slightly burnt at the edges, but you can just ignore that." Matt laughs "J, you really didn't have to do all this, grocery cookies would've been just fine 100% success rate and no wasted batter."

"NOO Matty where's the fun in that, you don't need to be so logical about it." Matt rolls his eyes. "Anyway, I have prepared a glorious feast of snacks and you will enjoy it." Jules jabs him in the ribs playfully "Ok, ok!"

Jules Dad was at a work Christmas party and her mom was doing some last-minute shopping, so the pair had the house to themselves. Jules put on 'Diehard' and animatedly narrated what was going on to Matt, she put on different voices for the various characters which in the end had them both in fits of giggles. When they had devoured all the snacks and the end credits where rolling Jules jumps up suddenly "One minute, I just need to get something."
A few seconds later Jules walks in carrying a medium sized box and a flat square parcel underneath her arm. She places them both infront of Matt. "Feel." Jules instructs. Reaching out in front of him, Matt moves his hands over the wrapping paper. When realization hits him about what it is he sighs. "Jules! We said we weren't gonna do presents this year!"

"Ughhh, I know I know but ok hear me out I found it and it was half price and and I just couldn't not get it you know."

"Matt, you have to understand it called to me. I'm not even joking. I couldn't leave it behind, that would've been very rude of me, and we both know I'm a very polite person." Matt hesitates momentarily "Oh? Ohh you're serious about that" he teases, Jules shoves him "Shut up and just open it wont you! "Matt tears the paper precisely "You're literally infuriating could you go any slower, just rip it."

"If I just rip it open, I'll just know what it is straight away! I want to build up to it, patience Jules."

"Uhhh" Jules groans dramatically slouching on the coach. Matt rips open the present swiftly and looks at Jules pointedly. He feels over it and falls completely silent. "You, you got me a record player." He feels over the second present "What record is this?"

"Well, I know how you really like soul, so I got you Stevie Wonder, Songs in the key of life."

"Jules i... I just I can't believe it...This is like the best present I've ever got." Jules smiles "I just wanted to make Christmas special for you." A mutual feeling of understanding passes between the two. Ever since the passing of his dad Matt Murdock had been bounced from foster home to foster home. The current family where consistently giving him an awful time, obviously only doing it for the extra money from the state, the man was particularly horrible to Matthew, objecting him to constant verbal abuse. Matt struggled to talk about it and shared little of the details with Jules. However, she sensed her best friends unease and wanted to do anything she could to bring her favourite person's life at least a bit of joy.