Promptvent - Day 19

25 days of winter prompts to thaw your writers (ice)block - and this year it's all about being Cozy.

Hello and welcome to day 19 of Promptvent!

If you’d like some wintry musical inspiration whilst you write, why not try listening to ‘Chill Christmas Beats for Wrapping Presents’ by Instrumental Christmas Classics on Spotify.

Listen to me read the guided invitation via audio below or if you prefer to read the transcript, that is also available for you underneath the audio.

Welcome back to our Promptvent village advent calendar where you find yourself standing once again before the cozy Christmas window.

Bundled up in your warm woolen mittens and thick scarf, you are eager to to know what wintry word of the day awaits you. What world will you step into and discover today? You lean closer, and can feel the eagerness in your fingers as you pull off your mittens and reach for the iron latch on the window, lifting it with care.

Inside the window, there appears to be a gift wrapping station. There is a large Christmas tree with various gifts underneath all waiting to be wrapped. Along the right side of the wall are poles jutting out, each with a roll of the most beautiful Christmas wrapping paper you’ve ever seen. There is thin red and green wrapping paper with animations of animals in Santa Hats, blue wrapping paper with white glittery snowmen, there is elegant red and gold leaf wrapping paper on a brown background and a simple recycled parcel paper roll.

On the counter, there is a box of old Christmas cards that have been cut out to make recycled tags and with rolls and rolls of ribbon, from gold to glittery red to rainbow, some shoestring thin and some the width of your arm. There is a tape dispenser and large scissors placed neatly with them. You think of all of the people you would love to gift something this Christmas and this looks like the perfect place to wrap them.

All of a sudden the red wreathed door to your left slowly opens, inviting you further. You step through the door, stamp the snow off of your boots and hang your winter coat up on a golden brass hook. The warmth of the room is very welcome to your rosy cheeks and cold nose.

You remember all of the times you’ve wrapped presents on the go in the car, or on the floor, losing the tape or the scissors under the wrapping paper for what seems like forever. This is all very cozy and luxury, but there is something special about the living room floor, surrounded in gift wrap and ribbon.

You inspect the gifts under the tree and every single one reminds you of a special person in your life, there are even a few that are without doubt, the perfect present for you - that you would normally never gift for yourself. Some gifts represents more conceptual longings to gift loved ones this Christmas, such as joy, hope and peace in the coming year. You think about those you are unable to give to this year, and more gifts arrive under the tree like magic, here, nothing is impossible and those that you think of, are receiving the gifts you wish you could give.

You pick up the gifts and begin to wrap them, in an array of paper and colors best suited to their tastes. Some gifts are as simple as a compliment that makes their eyes light up, or a Christmas miracle. Some are more physical items and you enjoy the feeling of packaging each gift and the excitement that comes with taking the time to honor someone with your time and thoughts.

Most of the presents are now wrapped and looking fabulous under the tree, with their various labels and dressings. The last two presents, the ones for you - are the most interesting. What are they? One is a physical item, something you need but keep putting off. The other is something you really want to arrive in your life next year. You think about this for a few minutes, before wrapping them both and writing your name. They are on their way.

Suddenly you notice one last item under the tree and pick it up, it is none other than a notebook and pen with your name on it. You open the page to reveal one word at the top, written in cursive script.

It reads: WRAP

You smile, take a seat by the Christmas tree next to the wrapped presents and ponder a little more about those gifts you will give and those gifts you wish to receive this Christmas. Then you pick up the pen, and you write.