A New Year’s Dream for Iris

It was the night of December 31, 2025. Outside, a cold wind was howling, but inside the house, everything was bathed in the warm, orange glow of the fireplace.

Having finished all her preparations for the New Year, Iris sat deep in the sofa, her body still warm from a hot bath.

In her hands, she held a mug filled with cocoa, topped with fluffy white marshmallows bobbing on the surface.

"I wonder if Papa is coming home soon..."

As she sat there, watching the steam rise from her cocoa while waiting for her father to return from work—suddenly, she heard a sound.

Rustle. Something was moving in the garden outside.

"Papa...?"

Iris stood up cautiously and slowly pushed open the heavy door.

Waiting there was not her father, but a horse.

It was a beautiful creature with a coat of shimmering gold, translucent just like Iris’s own hair.

"Are you lost...?"

As Iris drew closer, the horse let out a gentle nuzzle and turned its back to her, as if inviting her to climb on.

Though her legs trembled a little at the thought of her very first ride, the horse’s eyes were so calm and kind that Iris found the courage to gently mount its broad back.

The horse began to walk, then gradually picked up speed.

Iris’s heart raced with excitement as they galloped through the night meadows, the wind whistling past her ears.

Soon, a large lake appeared ahead, but the horse did not slow down.

"Oh no! We’re going to fall into the water...!"

Iris instinctively squeezed her eyes shut. In that moment, she felt her body drift upward, as light as a feather.

When she timidly opened her eyes, an unbelievable sight lay before her.

The horse’s hooves were not treading on the ground, but on the clear night sky.

Below them, the lights of the city sparkled like scattered jewels, and the stars danced just within her reach.

"It’s amazing! It’s like I’m taking a walk with the stars!"

Iris gazed at the scenery in wonder. Overwhelmed with affection, she buried her face in the horse’s warm mane and gave it a big, loving hug.

Eventually, the horse descended onto a quiet hill—the place closest to the sky in all the world.

From the far horizon, a warm orange glow began to spill out, and the first sun of 2026 revealed its face.

Wrapped in that divine light and lulled by the gentle swaying of the horse, Iris eventually drifted into a deep sleep.

...

"Mmm... zzz..."

When she next opened her eyes, Iris was back in her own bed. In her arms was her big, warm carrot-shaped pillow.

The faint scent of a cold winter night—the same scent as her father’s coat—lingered in the room.

Her father must have returned and carried the sleeping Iris to her room.

Iris rubbed her sleepy eyes and opened the window.

Bathed in the dazzling light of the New Year, she made a quiet wish from the bottom of her heart.

"I hope that 2026 will be another wonderful year, filled with many more happy stories with everyone I love!"

The carrot pillow she hugged felt somehow warm, just like the back of the golden horse from the night before.