Black Ice

White. Pure white. Like flecks of a broken moon befalling the Earth. My skin prickled at the cold touch of the falling snow as I trudged along, knee-deep in it, trying to find help. Or at the very least: shelter. I’d always loved the snow, watching it fall from the comfort of my warm kitchen as I made breakfast for my son but now… now it was a burden. Another few nails in my coffin that just might stop me from getting home.

Blood red stained the snow in a gruesome trail behind me. I gripped my stomach, trying to keep it all inside. As I lost more and more, I grew colder until I felt like ice myself. I wanted so badly to get back in my car and drift off to sleep but there was no use. Not anymore. Not now that it was twisted around mocking pine.

My legs grew weary and failed in an instant. I stumbled then collapsed upon the foot of a give-way sign. This was the end of my journey and I wished it hadn’t come so soon. I looked up to the charcoal sky and once again felt a calm as the snow fell gently on my face. I imagined I was eating warm pancakes with my son at the dining room table, talking about work and school and what girls he liked. It warmed my soul but made my throat grow tight.

A single long cold tear fell down my cheek.