Winter's End
Chapter One: Winter’s End
Present Day
Some stories are best told from the end. And this was indeed the end.
It was near midnight. It was the perfect time to make my escape. Even after all the time we spent together, a part of me still hated the cold, empty air and this sorry excuse of a small-homey town. Once outside, I pulled up my hood and began to walk on the path I knew all too well. Except for this time, it’s different. I am alone.
The realization hits me once again like a ton of bricks. Tears threaten to spill for the ten-thousandth time. Despite every part of my being begging me to turn around and head back, I continue along the dark narrow way.
I can see it now. After twenty minutes of walking, I arrive. A wave of nostalgia rolls overs me and memories begin to make their way to the surface. I push them down. I can’t bear to remember. Not yet.
There is a deep seed of pain within my body. I wipe away the tear that makes its way down the left side of my face. It’s the beginning of winter, the beginning of the end. I stand in the empty gravel driveway directly outside of the fenced-in football field.
I’ve made the same trip every night for weeks. However, I have never been able to stay longer than a few minutes before running home while heart-stopping sobs jerk my body forward. Tonight has to be different.
Standing still, I play nervously with the ring on my right hand. Looking down at it brings more tears to my eyes. I attempt to compose myself once again, not ready to feel the overwhelming emotions that accompany them.
All I can think of is that I need to remember. I need to feel him again, even if it’s for the last time. Slowly and with a slight limp, I make my way to the tall metal fence. Without a second thought, I hoist myself up and over the top of it and land on the other side.
I shouldn’t be doing this. I shouldn’t be here. But, the pain is too much. I have to remember. I have to remember everything. Guilt envelopes me at this thought. I made a promise to myself. It would be easier to forget. It would make the pain easier to deal with. As wrong as this may be, I can’t just forget. Maybe, just for tonight, I can let myself feel the pain I’ve been subduing.
I walk to the center of the field as the cold air whips at my face. Laying down on the cool, icy grass, I look up to the sky. I heave out a sigh and let my arms fall to my sides. Gazing at the star-filled sky of upstate New York, I start to fade away. I fade into my memories. This is what I want. This is what I need. I close my eyes, letting the memories take over.
Suddenly, a shock of emotion forces me to blink. The stars in the sky appear to fall towards me in streams of bouncy, multicolored light. My lips part in admiration as I take in the scene before me. I smile knowing what this means. I am ready to remember. I close my eyes again, but this time in content and utter bliss. Everything rushes into my mind as what was once beautiful streams of light becomes breathtaking music.
Sounds of various stringed instruments and piano keys fill my ears. I let go. I let the tears flow. I let my heartbreak. I once knew of a love so strong, it completely consumed me.
When I awake, I recognize the sounds, smells, and sights immediately. I’m home.
--------------AUTHOR’S NOTE---------------
Bonjour, Hola, Hello... and any other greeting you are familiar with,
This is a bit of a smaller first chapter, but hopefully, they will get longer. This story is being written as I go. There has been no planning besides years upon years of ideas and experiences. Forgive my amateur writing skills as this is my first time ever writing something like this. Also, forgive any gaps in the story and or grammatical errors. This is a free read after all. I love constructive criticism, but if you have nothing “constructive” to say, just stop reading. It’s literally that simple, but enough with my rant. I am writing this for fun as a sixteen-year-old girl with literally no life, so yeah. Enjoy, or don’t. Your choice. Thank you so much for reading!
