January 1, 1897
The White House, Washington D.C.
The first morning of the new year arrived with a quiet stillness. The celebrations of the night before had long faded, replaced by the soft hush of snowfall blanketing the city. The White House, usually a place of political scheming and restless activity, felt strangely peaceful.
President Matthew Hesh sat in the private dining room, still dressed in his white undershirt and suspenders, a hot cup of coffee in his hands. The scent of roasted beans mixed with the lingering pine of the Christmas decorations that still adorned the residence. It was the rare kind of morning where time seemed to slow, if only for a moment.
Across from him, Amber sat with her own cup of tea, her hair slightly tousled from sleep. She was still in her robe, a stark contrast to the polished First Lady the world saw in public. But here, in the privacy of their home, she was simply Amber.
