The Snow by; Chris A. (omicrontheta)
I pushed the heavy snow aside with my booted feet as I hauled myself up
the steep embankment. It was Christmas Eve, and I was out, alone, and
cold. So cold. Yet I made my way forward. It seemed like hours. Minutes
that is. The sun was on the crest of sinking, darkness already setting
in. Hours had passed, and the woods seemed to have grasped me, held me,
and now are pulling me in. I was truly alone. The duffle bag which
contained all that I had left in life bit into my hand, even through the
glove. The wind had picked up and I bowed my head low to avoid the
stinging ice that whipped though the drifts. The rock came out of
nowhere. It caught on my foot sending me to the ground. I had neither the
energy nor the ambition to get back up. I was dead. It seemed like a
short time passed, but reality told me it had been a long time. I got up.
Well, not really up, just opened eyes. What I saw was heaven, not real,
but heaven to me. Fire. Warmth. It was overwhelming and it felt great.
I basked in it, ignoring my cold backside. I blinked ever once and a
while, to make sure it was real. Then, I noticed a pair of eyes, staring
at me from across the blaze. “Hello,” I tried to say, but all that came
out was a kind of grunt. “Was wondering when you would get up,” the voice
said. I viciously cleared my throat and tried again. Then I truly
embarrassed myself with one of the dumbest questions, “Am I dead?” “No,
amazingly far from it.” It was true, I felt all five fingers and all five
toes, one each hand and each foot. “Wow,” was all I could say. “Merry
Christmas,” he said. I guessed his age to be around mine. Sixteen, from
the voice of course. “Your gift this year is your life.” “Have to be right
there,” I replied. With that I sat up with a groan. “Easy there.” He was
by my side in a flash to help me from falling back down. “Why grandma,
what strong arms you have.” I heard myself say. ‘Did I just say that!!’
“What…Oh.” And he laughed. Well, more like a giggle. I started to blush
and then joined in. “Why grandma, what big eyes you got.” “Shut up, they
are not that big. Just nice, and…and…” “Blue.” “Sure, they change all the
time. Need a mirror endlessly, to know what color.” “Of course,” I said
sarcastically. “Why grandma,” he started at me. I just looked at him.
“What beautiful eyes you have.” “Really, I always thought they were ugly.
You know, I don’t even know my angel’s name.” “Who?” “You, you did save my
life.” “Brian. My name is Brian. “Hello formally, My name is Trent.” “I
like that name.” I started to shiver again. “and I like the warmth.”
“True. Can you walk?” “I think so, better give it a shot.” Through all
this time, his arm, hasn’t left my shoulder. We hobbled off. Well, me
hobbling, he holding me up. It wasn’t far off to a cabin in the woods.
“You live here?” I asked. “Me and my dad.” “I see.” We entered and I
immediately felt better. Indoors with the outside, where it belongs,
outside. “Ahh.” “Cozy, huh?” I got my first look around and agreed with
him. “Where is your dad?” I inquired, than kicked myself for prying to
much. He evidently noticed this. “No, its ok. I know you already. You
may not know me. We go to the same school. You just don’t notice me.”
And I kicked myself again. “Sorry,” I mumbled. “Again, its ok. I cannot
blame you. I purposely stay in the background.” “Oh.” “You want to ask
why, don’t you?” He looked at me with this calm, understanding face. I
blushed. “Well. I am not afraid to say this, cus I feel it from you too.
Don’t ask me how, I really don’t care. I am afraid that other people will
find out my secret. Which I am now entrusting with you.” “Alright.” I
stood perfectly still “I am…well…not straight,” he rushed that last part.
“I’veknownitforyearsfeltitinsidemewantedittogoawaybutitwouldnotgosoIjustlet
myself glidetothebackground.” He said this with such tremendous speed that
I was still processing one he had finished. “Quite a mouthful there.” This
time he blushed. “Tell you the truth…wait…How the Hell you know about
me!!” “Guess.” “That damn ‘dar.’ No way beating it.” “Yep, I could smell
you commin’ a mile away.” He physically relaxed. “Tired.” It wasn’t till
then, that I realized how much I was. “Yea,” I yawned. “Come on, I’ll
show you the bedroom. My dad doesn’t like anyone sleeping in his bed, so I
guess we are forced with two options. Sleep on the floor, cus I ain’t
givin’ up the bed, or join me.” “Floor…Bed.” I really thought about this.
Trust me, I read. I know. And sharing a bed always turns into…well.”
“Bed. Good choice.” I was about to say floor, but upon his decision
making, I suddenly felt that the floor wouldn’t be much better than the
snow. “Ok,” was all that I said. “So what you got to sleep in?” It was a
direct question. I couldn’t answer, I had no idea. I just grabbed a load
of shit and tossed it in. So I looked. “Nothing,” I came up with. “You
know, you are turning this into a stereotype ever second here.” “Huh.”
“Come on, I read.” “So do I.” “You wanted to choose floor, didn’t you?” he
asked me. “Umm.” “Don’t worry. I am not ready, and I know from the look
on your face that isn’t your goal anyway. So just take it off down to the
bare essentials and hop in, we’ll pretend it isn’t a big deal.” And at that
moment, it wasn’t. I did as he asked, and he followed his own command.
There. Not so bad. Light off, two in one bed. What could be so
bad. “Goodnight,” he said. “Yea,” I mumbled. “Goodnight. My angel.”
“Huh?” “You’re my angel. Don’t you remember?” “Yea,” I know he was drowsy
now too. Then I did something that I thought I would never do. I turned
toward him and kissed him on the forehead. “Thanks,” I whispered. He
smiled. I couldn’t see it, but I knew it was there. “And Merry
Christmas.”
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