The Snow Angel
Written By: Kelsey Syble
Death can only take so much flirting and teasing until it has had enough.
"I'm not ready," I wail.
"They're coming for us," Henry insists through blue lips. He squints at the pale sky.
My fingers and toes are numb. Tears pierce my skin. I wonder what my parents and their goldendoodle are doing today. Probably napping in the heat.
"Jess," Henry murmurs, interrupting my thoughts. "Let's pretend we're at the beach."
I join him in delusion, like usual. Overlapping waves echo in my ears. Saltwater pricks my tongue. But there's no sunshine in our pretend life. I open my eyes, returning to our endless world of white.
For so long, I yearned to fall asleep and never wake up; to greet Death like an old friend. But now that Death is here...
"Let's make snow angels," I suggest through chattering teeth. "Just until they come."
We lie together in the snow for a while, moving our arms and legs until we are frozen to the ground.
"Thanks for staying," I whisper as the gray sky and white ground blend and blur my vision. I cannot move even a single muscle of my body to look at him, but somehow, I know he is still here.
"Hey," Henry whispers back, "I love you. I've always loved you. You know that."
It's cruel that even in my last moments, he tortures me with lies.
A familiar warmth envelops me, filling me with incomprehensible joy. And then, he disappears, one last time.
About the Creator
Kelsey Syble
A Southern-born-and-raised writer now navigating life in NYC.
📸 🎥 @kelseysyble
Reader insights
Outstanding
Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!
Top insights
Compelling and original writing
Creative use of language & vocab
Excellent storytelling
Original narrative & well developed characters
Eye opening
Niche topic & fresh perspectives
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Comments (9)
Beautifully written heartbreaking microfiction. Enjoyed every word. Especially enjoyed your opening line (quoted by Joe already) and this one: "I wonder what my parents and their goldendoodle are doing" ha!
Congrats on Top Story!🥳
“Death can only take so much flirting and teasing until it has had enough.” is such a great opening line. This says a lot in so few words. Makes me wonder what happened between the two of them!
I felt this.....excellent!
Awe-inspiring work! Keep up the remarkable effort—congrats!
Haunting. Very well done!
The lying was a bit of a shock. A sad note on why people torture themselves instead of finding the strength to walk away. This was a lovely read. Congratulations
Wow! Great job, Kelsey, and a very well-deserved Top Story.
Why do you believe he's lying to you? I cannot help but wonder. The words came as a bit of a blow, a dose of my own reality, entering into the surreality of what is happening, dragging me into the snow with them.