Snowfall in Orgrimmar by Alona Yakovenko

Love is the desire for what we do not have.

What is it, then? A chase for the illusion of perfection, meant to satisfy an intentional blindness? Pursuing a ghost might be more successful. I realized that at the last minute — right when I saw her lovely nickname.But first things first.

Coming home late from work, I, as usual, spent some time playing World of Warcraft, which had become my digital monastery. Azeroth, that vast universe, was the only place I could feel free from mundane burdens, whether it's irritating neighbors or never-ending car loan payments. Yet my greatest concern was always loneliness. When it came to making friends or, God forbid, romantic relationships — I turned into the quintessence of hopelessness.

That was my life until I met her: Hrivenona, the embodiment of my restless dreams.

We met in Karazhan, an ancient, abandoned tower in Deadwind Pass. Both of us had joined a raid to annihilate a boss and claim the sweet loot. Hrivenona, meaning born in the winter, was a blood elf rogue. The cold-sounding name might mislead the reader, but don’t be fooled. The moment I heard her voice in chat, I understood what pure innocence sounded like. It flowed like a crystal waterfall, and her character was just as enchanting. Snow-white hair veiled her mysterious emerald eyes, though not quite enough to hide her long, elegantly pointed ears. But most of all, I was captivated by her mastery. The way she handled the fight is graceful, precise, and mesmerizing.

[Whisper from Hrivenona]: Any help?

[You → Hrivenona]: You see, even in being useless, I’m incomparable.

[Hrivenona]: Yes, I see.

Pulling myself together, I used my abilities more effectively, finally contributing something real to the team.

[Hrivenona]: You underestimate yourself.

[You]: Years of practice bear fruit.

[Hrivenona]: Then why did you play like a vegetable?

[You]: Wanted to surprise you.

[Hrivenona]: Nice try.

[You]: :3

Believe it or not, that moment was the cornerstone in shaping us as a team, maybe even more.

[Hrivenona]: Lmao.

Where was I? Oh, right. Our acquaintance soon bloomed into endless conversations. We spent more and more time together — from raiding to just sitting by a fire. This little rapscallion even taught me the correct spell rotation. Our adventures became smoother, funnier, more ours. When we weren’t fighting, we shared stories from our lives and drew parallels with Warcraft.

[Hrivenona]: Yeah, and then mom bursts into the kitchen and sees that everything is covered in chocolate cake.

[You]: She had a good excuse. She’s an orc, warrior class.

[Hrivenona]: The one and only I never invite over.[You]: C’mon, is it that bad between you two?

[Hrivenona]: Well, she still plays better than you, so I guess not).

[You]: I have a terrible teacher.

[Hrivenona]: Keep telling yourself that.

We laughed. And then, in the middle of that laughter, it hit me like a bolt of lightning.

[You]: I want to meet you.

[Hrivenona]: You already have).

[You]: I mean IRL.

[Hrivenona]: Oh.

[You]: What do you think?

My fingers trembled like after a hard comedown.

[Hrivenona]: Should we?

[You]: What do you mean?

[Hrivenona]: Listen, I don’t want to screw this up. And before you say anything, just know — I really cherish every minute with you.

[You]: Then why not meet me?

[Hrivenona]: Because I already have. And so have you. I’m afraid that I won’t feel the same way in real life. I admire you here, in WoW, but what if I see you and feel nothing? I don’t want to lose this. I’m sorry.

She waited for a reply, but I had none. My mind was a storm of emotions. Only she could bring me back.

[Hrivenona]: Please, say something.

I let her words sink in, then finally typed:

[You]: I guess it’s better to keep things as they are than to lose them entirely.

[Hrivenona]: So you agree?[You]: Unfortunately, you didn’t give me much of a choice.

Simultaneously, I felt rage and hope. Rage for her sudden lack of confidence. This fearless rogue, who’d danced through dungeons and vanished into shadows, now disappears at the thought of my face? Pathetic. I meant it.

But hope, too. Hope for the kind of relationship untouched by flaws, fatigue, or disappointment. We didn’t know each other’s worst sides. We never argued. We were never bored of each other. We existed in a perfect loop, just enough to love without burning out. Isn’t that something worth preserving?

A little escapism never hurt.

[Hrivenona]: Are you okay?

[You]: Keep going.

I buried my fury. It faded with time. But our love only grew. And strangely, that absence of reality made it feel more real. We spent four more years together raiding, laughing, confessing fears, dreaming aloud. We explored Azeroth from A to Z, battled through the hardest dungeons, and stood victorious together.

The snow in Orgrimmar fell softly, without disturbing the silence. My sweet snowflake and I walked toward the main gates. As the years passed, she finally broke the quiet.

[Hrivenona]: Hey.

[You]: What, snowy?

[Hrivenona]: Remember when you asked to meet IRL?

[You]: You think you’re ready?

[Hrivenona]: Do you want to?

[You]: No.

[Hrivenona]: I thought that was your purpose.

[You]: Me too. But not anymore. Keep going.

We continued walking through the vast plains of Azeroth. The snow melted softly around us.

And somehow, the cold was gone.