The Cold

Preface;

"I'm going to go grab a sweater" I said to my two friends, grabbing my arms to hold in the small amount of warmth. 

"Okay, see you later Faye" Faith replied, signaling Alyssa to sit next to her. They waved goodbye as I started on my short journey home.

I walked along the smooth concrete that belonged to the familiar skatepark of the small town I called home; Parson Brown. With only 18 000 people holding it's streets together, it was a small loving community I was proud to call home. 

I walked down the curving street, feeling only one thing; the cold. My arms felt as though they were frozen solid under my tank top. Although it was late September, this was the first cold day we've had all year. I was smart enough, yet stupid enough to wear my ripped jeans which kept me just warm enough to walk along the cold sidewalk on the quiet, tree surrounded street.

I walked across the weir bridge when something caught my eye from the tree line across the street. I stood still, something inside me told me it was trouble, yet I felt calm. I did the one thing I prayed to God I would not do; blink. The cold air, and the anxiety of this unknown person in the cold fall air caused my eyes to blink tears. Then, my one fear came true; it was gone. 

Minutes, that felt like hours passed, as my eyes watched the empty spot where this thing belonged. I was surprised when I felt something. Longing? I shook my head, and shivered. I continued walking and finally found myself at home.

"Hey, Dad" I said opening the door and grabbing a blanket.

"Cold?" He asked not taking his focused eyes off the television.

"Freezing" I replied simply

I stood in the mirror studying my long wavy brown hair, blue eyes, and pale skin dotted with dark freckles. I re-adjusted my long maroon sweater, and black leggings. 

After a couple moments in my father's warm apartment, I slipped on my Vans. Then, I was off again.

I opened my phone to the page with back and forth messages between Rayna and I.

where should I meet you guys? 

Rather than waiting by putting my phone in  my pocket like a normal person, I continued to walk with my head hung low focused on the small lit up screen in the dark misty night.

My head shot up at a sudden ear piercing noise that my brain did not recognize as danger. My eyes slightly focused on the bright headlights of a large truck. I closed my eyes tight. In movies and stories this moment is said to go in slow motion, and as told, it did. I braced my body for the crashing feeling of all my bones crushing. I waited, with my eyes closed tight, for the impact to occur, and hoping that I would open my eyes again.

But, unlike I had expected, the pain was minimal, in fact there was none at all. It was more of a whooshing feeling like I was flying, or being carried even. 

I opened my eyes, but rather than  seeing anything "afterlife" like, I saw the same old street I saw everyday.

A man, who I assumed was the truck driver, and dozens of other people rushed out of their cars to help me. Dozens of worried voices quickly faded into the background as my mind went far away. Something in the back of my head told me to look into the fenced area owned by the car dealer ship, that was now just beside me. I did. I saw a familiar figure. Who knew a figure could be so familiar? Instead of following every human instinct pulsing threw my veins, I continued to stare. Unlike the time before the figure did not move, it was as though it was not even breathing. Although this "thing" did not know me, nor did I know it, I felt safe under the piercing gaze that I could feel from 30 meters away. 

After that, the darkness took over my mind and my head hit the pavement with a solid crack. Even though I remember that night with every inch of my being, the doctors told me it was the shock that made me see this thing in the dark tree line. But, even so, it is impossible for a human body to jump that far when fear is taking over a body. But, no matter how hard I try to, I could never forget that warm fuzzy feeling the unknown being gave me, even in the freezing cold.