To hide away
Snow
We drove up the snowy, winding road towards the cozy A-frame cabin, The blizzard snow and the glaring sun, soaked some of the stress out of my body. We soaked in the quiet surroundings, no radio, no chitter chatter. It had been a dangerous ride, from the minute we left the snow-laden streets of the city. but now we were just minutes away from our destination. I was glad Jeff had rented the sturdier jeep, instead of the wrangler I had wanted. I fell out of the jeep onto the snow. There was a slight path, but we were still slugging through layers of snow. Thank god only one suitcase each. There was enough snow on the ground to make angels. but not enough to bury us if we had laid on the white ground.
The cabin was actually locked. Like a hotel, we had been given a plastic card. Jeff opened the door and let us in. The heat was on when we entered. The lights went on when the front door opened. Alexa and her plugs with a word from one of us controlled most of the house The only thing that did not seem to be computerized was the fireplace. Next to it was a pile of wood and some matches. A live fire, is one of my favorite treats. There was a fur rug in front of it. Large enough for the two of us to cuddle up on. I hugged Jeff, This was going to be perfect. He smiled and held onto me.
He went and checked the kitchen. He laughed, " Sara, they actually bought all the groceries we requested" "The ingredients for a White Russian, as well?" "Yes, everything we requested." He made each of us a drink, and I started to work on the fire. Jeff then made Nachos in the microwave.
We sat on the rug, eating our nachos and drinking our drinks. Once the fire grew warm, I removed my shoes and socks and lay down on jeff's lap gazing at the flames. He calmly rubbed his hands through my hair. The heat of the fire was warm enough that I did not get cold when his hands moved down my back. I just sunk into the feeling of relaxation. He gave me a kiss on my forehead and wrapped his body around me and just held me. We both seeped into the warmth of our affection, and the comfort of the fire. I lay there knowing that I had finally found the right man.
He loved touching me emotionally and physically. It did not matter that I wore a size large, or did not fit society's idea of a beauty. And no he was not biting his tongue, he was speaking and expressing his perception of reality.
When I awoke, the fire had died. Jeff was curled up next to me still sleeping. According to Alexa, it was 3 am. I pulled pj's out of my bag. I got Jeff a blanket and went to finish my sleep in the bed. When I got in bed, all I did was say " Alexa turn off all the indoor lights"
When a few hours later I awoke, Jeff was already awake. He had made a batter for pancakes and changed into his llbean Pjs. I made two pancakes and went and sat in front of the fire. I sat on the blanket he had folded. I sat in the stillness as I listened to him outside cutting wood. He had made me a cup of coffee as well. No yelling about lost keys, and who used the last toilet paper.
Jeff entered with more logs. " Doesn't feel like our life, does it? " "It's so relaxing" I replied. Jeff grabbed his coffee. I brushed the snow off him but ended up massaging his shoulders. He suddenly lifted me up into the air. "How about a shower" When we were just dating they would do things like showering together. I felt the old excitement, of when he was trying to convince me to marry him. When he had wanted to convince me of his appeal. That it would not be boring, lawn work, daily work, doctors appointments, ect. She felt that appeal every day of their relationship, even with the arguments, and nights in bed where they simply gave each other a peck on the lips, set the alarm and went to sleep.
She laughed as he carried her into the shower. This is how they had dreamed their life would be. After soaping and rinsing, both were relaxed and happy. More llbean apparel and a hike. She took so many pictures of him and the cabin in the snow-covered landscape. On the stretch back he gave her a ride on his back, bouncing her up and down like a toddler. In sight of the cabin, she jumped down and unlocked the door.
It was snowing yet there were occassional patches of melted grass, now encircling the hut. Sara sighed once Jeff brought it to her attention, she knew he would disappear to investigate.
After a few hours Sara noticed that the noises of his investigation had ceased. She looked out the window and saw him laying on the ground. She banged on the window, he did not stir. Moments later she was dragging him into the cabin. He was mumbling, so at least she knew he was conscience. She lay him on the couch, got him some orange juice and rubbed his head. Jeff felt weak . It was hard for him to move on his own. He told Sara to recharge their phones, he had a feeling something was not right. He told her to keep the fire going. He sept. Sara awoke him an hour into his sleep. She was concerned The heat was off, and the technology had frozen. They were locked in the cabin. The blizzard had grown more intense yet there were more green patches on the lawn.
911 seemed unusable on both of their phones. They ate cheese as they waited for what must be a power clitch to end. Something was warming the lawn, yet the temperature in the cabin was falling, Jeff was still weak and Anna was getting scared. No Alexa, and no phone.
Jeff then surprised her "Break the window" "What" " We need to get out to the car. " Sara grabbed a small log from the fireplace and swung it at the glass pane. She then grapped her diamond and scrapped the diamond on the glass. It weakened the glass, and then she swung the log again. There was a small crack. She swung the log at the crack. She thrust her foot onto the glass,and finally she could feel air seeping in through the widened crack. Jeff had her grab the car keys, wallets, her purse ,and camera. He took all his energy to break through the window. He crawled to the car. Sara helped him into the car. She was beginning to feel hazy. Once in the car she cried. All she had was a permit and she had to drive. She thought the other driver was supposed to be alert, but something here was wrong. She drove down the snowy road and turned left to where she had seen a hotel.
She looked at the ground along the side of the road, no green patchs and her haziness seemed to be fading. Jeff was gaining his energy. She started singing "At last I am free. I can finally see in front of me" Jeff kissed her "We made it" She kept driving but she was crying.
She drove by the hotel. She wanted to be someplace public and safe. She finally found a busy cheesy hotel. It was crowded with skiers, bars, and swimming pools. She finally stopped crying once they got the keys to their room. The tv was on. They gasped, their safe romantic getaway was on fire. There was some strange gas that had caused the flames. The firemen kept passing out. With all that damage, nobody would ever find out that they had broken the window.
About the Creator
Antoinette L Brey
I am an elder in a time of freedom. I am now retired. All i want to do is have fun. Without a daily routine, my imagination is one of my only salvations. I am not planning on writing a book, it is just for my own pleasure
Reader insights
Outstanding
Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!
Top insight
Excellent storytelling
Original narrative & well developed characters
Comments (2)
Great story, really liked this, felt I was there. Wonderful challenge entry
Wow, great mystery to the story. You paint a nice picture of the snowy cabin in the beginning. I love snow, so the cabin and environment were great. The transition to first to third person was quite intriguing!