Snowing Home
A Snow Micro
"Snow's not so cold, after all", she marveled aloud as she watched the fat fluffy flakes fall around her outstretched hand.
Ellen had been nervous about attacking the rapidly escalating blanket of snow; this had always been Steve's job, and one that he used to enjoy. Clearing away the snow in front of their home gave him satisfaction, he always told her. It's what the man of the house should do.
Now there was no more man of the house, and Ellen added this to the many tasks she'd needed to conquer on her own. Ellen dreaded the work and the cold.
Fascinated, she watched her warm woolen mitten become rimed with snowy crystals, and although she could see the fibers become darker from the moisture she couldn't feel the cold on her fingers.
She couldn't see the shovel, either, even though she knew she'd dropped it right over there, next to the mailbox, when she'd turned to go back to the house.
All she'd needed was to sit and rest, and maybe get warm. 'A little break' is what Steve used to say. A little break to catch his breath.
Since she'd sat down at the end of the driveway her breathing had been slower, with a lovely warmth making her drowsy. Falling snow was bringing a glow to the night sky. Ellen leaned, tipping her head up to see the snow whirling.
Steve floated towards her.
"Give me your hand honey, I'll take you home," said Steve tenderly.
About the Creator
Judey Kalchik
It's my time to find and use my voice.
Poetry, short stories, memories, and a lot of things I think and wish I'd known a long time ago.
You can also find me on Medium
And please follow me on Threads, too!
Reader insights
Outstanding
Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!
Top insights
Easy to read and follow
Well-structured & engaging content
Excellent storytelling
Original narrative & well developed characters
Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions
Keep reading
More stories from Judey Kalchik and writers in Fiction and other communities.
- Runner-Up in Misplaced Challenge
MisplacedRunner-Up in Misplaced Challenge
Your hand just missed me. I thought you'd keep coming as you thumbed your way across the titles on your bookshelves. From the edge of the pages I could see you pausing at your favorite story (The Stand, of course it would be The Stand), and then grabbing up the Thesaurus and Dictionary to send to the thrift store.
By Judey Kalchik 3 months ago in Fiction
Never Surrender
A lot can happen in a minute. In fact, in the last sixty seconds over two hundred babies were born in the world and almost half will spend the first years of their lives in poverty. Over one hundred people died in that same minute and at least one died of the Big C. That one cause of death no one likes to talk about, because saying its name out loud might give it power or somehow invite it into our lives.
By Mary K Brackett3 days ago in Fiction
Vocal Bonus Leaderboard: 05/01/2024
Welcome to the weekly update of the Leaderboard! We're thrilled to showcase Vocal's most discussed stories, popular picks, and rising stars. Let's dive into this past week's standout contributors and their remarkable achievements.
By Vocal Teamabout 14 hours ago in Resources
Comments (23)
Congrats on Top Story!🥳
Such a gentle and lovely story, and what a nice ending:) Loved this line-“Fascinated, she watched her warm woolen mitten become rimed with snowy crystals”.
YAY! Top Story and well deserved!
Congrats on your top story. It’s a wonderful love story and I am glad Steve was there to welcome her as she took her last breaths.
Such a sweet sentimental short story. A gentle nudge to a timeless love. Congrats.
Your writing poignantly captures the blending of grief and magical realism, as Ellen's encounter with the snow transitions from a chore into a serene, possibly final, moment of reunion with Steve.
I love the foreshadowing tucked away in the middle when you describe the mittens becoming dark and her being unable to feel her fingers. Great take on the prompt
Back to say congratulations on your Top Story! 🎉💖🎊🎉💖🎊
This is beautiful Judey. The ending hit me in the heart.
Beautiful. Simply beautiful.
Top Story Time!🏅
Oh whoa. The domestic scene utterly transformed by the end. What a perfect narrative surprise, and so emotional. 😭 This is excellent.
I did not see that coming. Great job!
I love this..Nice transition into the afterlife
Very sad and sweet ending, I really appreciate the way you weave the tragedy and cathartic moments so well
Beautiful writing. I both loved and hated the ending. That she died was sad. That Steve was there, was smoothly and beautifully written, like it was meant to be. Excellent.
This had such a delicate touch to it -Really beautiful, I could picture Steve holding out is hand towards her 🤍
Omggg!! Did she like, die??!! Even if she didn't and this is me being daft, I loved your story!
What a beautiful way to be welcomed home.
Touching and in someway lovey although sad. You treated this with such reverence. Beautiful Judey
So bittersweet. Lovely
Great entry Judey, with a bittersweet ending. You did a great job giving so much of Ellen's story and using so little words.
Captivating microfiction & loved it!!!💕♥️♥️