The Redhead at the Pond.

The air was crisp. It had snowed the night before, and now, the sun had come out, as if it were unaware of the false promise, it gave us. It didn’t warm the chill, but somehow it promised that it would. I bundled up and headed to the most popular spot in town. It wasn’t the mall or the arcade. No today, it was the pond. A small fishing pond on the edge of town had gained the popularity and status of the mall. Everyone was gathered around. There were moms with thermoses of hot chocolate perched on the shoreside, and kids on skates gliding across the frozen surface. There was a small hockey game going on at one of the ends of the pond. No one seemed to notice the chill, and everyone relied on the sun’s promise to warm everything up. My breath puffed white as I stood along the sidelines. I’d never been a skater. Truth be told, I skated on my butt more times than not. I didn’t come for the possibility of a broken bone; I came for her. Her beautiful red hair contrasted against the snow as if she were a flame burning bright. I couldn’t see her eyes but I knew that they shone with excitement. She was a natural on her skates as if she were an angel gliding across the clouds. She didn’t notice me but I couldn’t keep my eyes off her. Her beauty stood out in everyway against the white snow, as if she were painted by an artist.

I stayed most of the day. By this point, the moms had taken their kids home for lunch, and the hockey game had turned into “I’m cold, let’s go play video games.” My hands were numb despite being buried in thick gloves. My ears and nose had gotten frostbite or at least, they felt that way, but I stayed. I stayed because she was still there skating. She was becoming more active now that there weren’t tons of little kids trying not to fall. I watched her do jumps and twists as if she were an Olympic medalist. After a while, she noticed that we were the only two still out there. When she saw me looking at her, I quickly looked away. “Have you been watching me?” She said as she skated to my side of the pond. I couldn’t lie to her. “Yes, I was admiring your skating.” I said sheepishly. She smirked as if she realized that wasn’t the only thing I’d been admiring. “Why don’t you join me?” She asked after a minute. I chuckled. “I’m not even close to being as graceful as you. We’d spend most of our time helping me stay on my feet.” She skated backwards towards the center of the pond. “Are you chicken?” She asked a little more curiously. I nodded. “Yup. I know if I join you, I’ll have a broken bone by the end of it.” She laughed; her sweet voice echoing across the pond. She smiled as she began to spin. It was only a split second before I heard the crack. “Hey, get off the ice.” I yelled but she didn’t seem to hear me. The sound of ice splitting became louder. “HEY!” I shouted. She finally stopped but not soon enough. The crack split between her legs like a character in a cartoon. She started skating towards me but she wasn’t fast enough. Before I could even think, she suddenly disappeared into the ice. Without thinking, I ran out on the ice. Of course, my added weight made it split and crack even more. I attempted to get to the center where she’d gone under but I was slipping and sliding and trying to avoid the cracked pieces. By the time, I got there, there was no sign of her. I scrambled out my cell phone and called the emergency number. They answered, and I sputtered out what happened, but as I spoke the ice split even more. I hurriedly shuffled to get off the ice before it completely broke.

It seemed to take forever for the cops and paramedics to get there; although, it was probably only a few minutes. I watched as they broke the ice and began the search. I was numb both inside and out. I remember thinking that I should cry, but the tears were frozen. They finally pulled her out. Her skin was a blueish white, and her beautiful red hair was a flame that was burning out. White icicles clung to every inch of her. My heart ached knowing I didn’t save her. One of the cops offered me a ride home. I accepted and relished in the heat of the car. When I got home, my mother hugged me and told me how much she loved me. I couldn’t stop thinking that the red head’s mom would never be able to say those words to her again. I didn’t even know her name. I’d only seen her in one of my classes. I’d always been mesmerized by her beautiful red hair. My mom made me hot chocolate, and sat next to me by the fireplace. We didn’t speak but after a while, I felt better. I at least felt dethawed.

I attended her funeral. I stood off to the side for the majority of it but I did offer my apology to her mother. Surprisingly, her mother hugged me and told me that if I hadn’t been out there, it might’ve been a lot longer before they found her. My heart broke for this lady. My heart broke for her redhead who had been at the pond.