The intro erupted across the screen. High-definition snowflakes fell in sync with the real ones falling from the sky. The words "Christmas and New Year: A Gift from Joe" shimmered in elegant gold. The crowd gasped in unison.
The clock on the wall ticked toward midnight on Christmas Eve, but Elias wasn’t looking at it. His eyes were glued to the rendering bar on his monitor. The intro erupted across the screen
From the back of the crowd, a bundled-up Joe watched from his wheelchair, a tear freezing on his cheek. He reached out and squeezed Elias’s hand. The intro had done more than just start a video; it had signaled to the town that even in a hard year, the sparkle hadn't faded. the sparkle hadn't faded.