Gingerbread

The aroma of freshly baked cookies fills the air, bringing back fond memories of family and childhood.
As you mix the dough, you think about all the happy memories of baking with your mother. You can almost hear her voice as you follow the recipe, and the kitchen is filled with the comforting smell of ginger and cinnamon. It's a wonderful feeling, and you know that the cookies will be delicious.

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As you reach for the oven, you notice a strange aroma in the air. It's not the comforting scent of gingerbread, but something more sinister. Turning on the light, you find a tray of perfectly cut gingerbread men, their white eyes glowing in the dark. You hesitate for a moment, then reach for the tray. As you pull it out, a note flutters to the floor. You pick it up, heart pounding, and unfold it with trembling hands

As you pull out the baking tray, you notice a small note fluttering down. In trembling hands, you unfold it and read: "Merry Christmas! I hope these cookies bring you joy and comfort, just like the ones your mother used to make. Sending lots of love from afar." Your heart swells at the thought of your loved ones wishing you a happy holiday season. Maybe it's not so bad to be alone on Christmas after all.

The timer on the oven goes off, bringing you back to reality. You reach for the tray, pulling it out slowly to let the warm smell of gingerbread fill the room. The smell brings back fond memories of baking with your mother, and you smile at the thought. After a moment, you shake your head and turn back to the task at hand.

Now that the timer has gone off, you set the cookies on a cooling rack to rest. You think back to the recipe, trying to remember what to do next. It seems like a lifetime has passed since you started baking, and your mind is spinning from the delicious smell of gingerbread. You read over the recipe again, making sure you haven't missed a step. Suddenly, you remember something important.

You turn your attention back to the cookies, checking the timer and making sure they're cooking at the right temperature. As you wait for them to finish, you start thinking about all the fun things you can do once they're ready. You can make icing in lots of different colors, you can draw little faces on them, and you can even give them funny little hair and outfits.

However, despite having attempted it the previous year, you persist in baking those cookies annually, as the receding waves of memory obscure their unpleasant aspects. Each year, you cling to the hope that they will resemble the delectable treats your mother once crafted.