Weekend Getaway

The Weekend Getaway

We drove up the snowy, winding road towards the cozy A-frame cabin. I was clutching my purse against my chest, twirling my fingers through its purple fringes. My eyes were glued on the view from the passengers window as we passed snowy trees and frozen lakes. I could taste the bitter city air less and less as we were engulfed by snowfall. However, an anxiety followed me, and it was being fed by my husband's deafening silent driving. No music was playing and our two kids in the back didn’t dare make a sound. I sighed and felt him dart his eyes towards me. How dare I be ungrateful, I heard his voice yell in my head. He didn’t need to say anything anymore, he was successful in planting his voice in my mind. What a pity I thought. It wasn’t always like this. I remember times we would drive up to the cabin, all singing Christmas songs, and how warm the fire was while we played board games. I remember leaning my head against his chest as we sipped hot chocolate and watched the kids gleefully open their gifts. I almost can’t comprehend now how much trust I used to have in him. That was all in the Before, now things were different, now I needed to shut up and go along with his sick play. Because that’s what we are now, all actors tightly stuffed into the image of a perfect family.

The car pulled into the driveway and I unloaded the kids while he hulled the luggage to the front door. It was a nice cabin, nicer than I remembered it to be and it reminded me of gingerbread houses. The two gramcrackers leaning against each other in the perfect triangle and the snow sliding off the sides; a dripping coat of frosting. As I walked up to the door I noticed a new cabin had been built, a few yards away, smoke funneling out of its chimney. We have neighbours I noted, somehow that made me feel more at ease.

The first few days were spent in routine; by the third day, I hoped that maybe this retreat was going to be healing for us. That we could talk about the unspoken and maybe mend some wounds. It was giving me the hope I had forsaken 2 years prior. I stared out the window, thinking about it all, figuring out my options. That’s when I noticed an older woman waving to me from a distance. She had grey hair tied up in a bun and her husband was chopping wood next to her. It was a peaceful sight, like the ones you see on Hallmark cards. I waved back.

“Why do you have to bother people?” my husband remarked. A knot formed in my throat and I looked down and away from the window.

“So what’s on the agenda for today?” I tried to lighten the mood.

“ I thought you could go out with the kids, I need some time alone right now.” he replied, moving towards the medicine cabinet and grabbing some small white pills.

“ But we're here as a family,” I protested, “ we’re meant to do this together.”

“ I said go out with the kids!” he yelled, taking a brisk step towards me, a warning I felt, in the way the air shifted around me. He hadn’t yet, but I was waiting for the day he wouldn't just harm me with words. I knew how bad it was getting, but I was still waiting. Waiting for him to return to who he was, for us to be what we dreamt of. Maybe it was that, the dream of us, that I simply could not let go of.

I grabbed their jackets and wrapped them each with a wool scarf and they ran outside. The air was crisp; fresh. I was suddenly glad he didn’t come with us; in the end just being with my boys was going to be more enjoyable. The lady and her husband weren’t there anymore, but I had a feeling I should say hi anyway. It was a tugging in my chest, as if their cabin had its own gravitational field that was pulling me over. Sure enough, we stood at their doorstep, the boys took turns knocking on the wooden door. She opened the door and smiled, “ I was hoping you’d come and say hi '' she said. She was plump and small and she looked like she baked the best cookies. I was instantly filled with a sense of comfort and familiarity. Her husband walked up beside her and greeted us as well. He had a white beard and wore a red flannel with the buttons barely clinging onto eachother. “ Are you Santa Claus?” my youngest asked.

He laughed a deep belly laugh that was effortlessly contagious.

“ No” he replied “ but you two must be the elves I’ve seen run around.”

My boys chuckled shyly, they weren’t used to this kind of attention.

They invited us in and served us warm tea in mismatched mugs. “ So when was the cabin built? It looks great.” I said before taking a sip of my tea.

“ Oh honey we’ve been here for years, far too many to remember.” She replied with a slight smile.

“ That’s odd. '' I accidentally slipped out loud. They both looked up, ready for me to explain why it was strange.

“ Oh it's just that me and my family were in the Airbnb next door 3 years ago and I didn’t notice your cabin.” I quickly justified, sipping again on my earl grey.

“ Sometimes we cannot see what’s right in front of us” the old woman replied, again with that sly smile.

The sun began to set; I bundled the boys back up, as we said our goodbyes and headed out. Our cabin was quiet and dark, I flicked open the lights and the boys ran to their sleeping father. He was slumped over on the couch and frustratingly moaned as the kids shook him awake. They were excited to tell him all about the people next door. In the meantime, I got a kettle and started to boil water for some hot chocolate in the kitchen. I felt recharged after having spent the afternoon with the old couple. It was as if they could see through me, and I felt noticed for the first time in a while. I called over the boys and gave them each their steaming cups. Then, it all happened so quickly. My baby lifted the cup towards his father, his chubby fingers slipping; the way it fell, my husband’s scream, and how quick his hand descended on him. My baby’s body flew, his soft blond locks hitting the corner of the table; there was so much blood. I screamed.

“ Who are you?!” I yelled at him, he looked shocked and motionless. I don’t think he was even aware of the darkness in him. Picking up my son. I was done. This has gone on for too long. I grabbed my eldest by the hand, my baby in my arms, and I ran. We crossed the snowy field leaving behind us a trail of red droplets that shined against the moonlight. I burst into the couples cabin.

“ Call 911 please” I fell to my knees.

I laid there shaking, the blood of my child in my hands, the eldest crying as I tried to hold both of them in my arms. The strangers circled me, the older women gave me a hug from behind. I couldn’t see her, but I felt her warmth. Her arms felt like shields holding me together. And then there were the sirens. Only a whisper in the distance, but they got louder and louder and my breathing gradually slowed. It was all gonna be over soon, I closed my eyes.

“ Ma’am” It sounded like an echo.

“ Ma’am, are you okay?” It was the voice of a man; he shook my shoulder gently. I open my eyes to 2 emergency responders, both in blue. The woman behind him came over to my first son and wrapped him in a blanket. She then looked over to my baby and sternly confirmed he’ll need medical attention, before running to the van.

“ Ma’am, are you the one who called?” he asked, kneeling down to where I huddled on the ground, my unconscious boy tightly wrapped in my arms.

“ No..” I managed to get out, “ I don’t have a phone, it was the couple who called.” I said looking up at him.

He looked confused, “ which couple ma’am?”

I looked behind me ready to point them out, but there was nothing. In fact the place was empty, unfurnished and dusty.

“ Ma'am, this place has been abandoned for a long time,” he replied. His eyebrows pushed forwards in a state of confusion.

He started to pull my son from my arms, “ we’re going to get you both the attention you need, okay?!” He looked for my approval, but all I could manage was a nod. That was enough for him; he passed my baby to the lady who strapped him in a bed and ran off once more.

“ Can you tell me what happened?” he asked as he held my wrist, feeling my pulse. My eldest knelt by me, I expected him to say it was Daddy, but he didn’t.

“ I’ll explain sir, I was there.” he said in a voice that sounded older than it should have. The medic nodded.

The End.