It was like I was watching a movie. The memory that has haunted my mind and dreams seemed to have come to life right before my very eyes. I see myself, six years younger, skating with my sister, cousin, and Olaf. We had no skates so it was really just us slipping and sliding, but having a good time nonetheless. Until it suddenly went downhill. I see myself spinning Anna, our turns going faster and faster. My fingers remember the tight ache as they tried their hardest to hold on. They felt the alarming slipping of Anna's hands, getting looser and looser with every turn. I see her body fly backwards, her head hitting the ice, her blood spilling out, and the ice cracking below her. I see myself running toward her and her body suddenly vanishing, going under into the ice cold water.
I hear the scream of her name coming from my mouth, echoing in my ears and making me jump, as if it was currently happening.
I see Jack's father suddenly coming out of nowhere, sprinting toward us and gliding on the ice with no skates with such ease. He was so quick and graceful and brave. I see him dive into the water and I see myself frozen where I stood. I hear the cries of my cousin and the shouts from Olaf telling me to get off the ice, but I couldn't. I couldn't move. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't do anything but stare at the hole my sister had fell through and the little bit of blood that remained.
My hands remember the feel of someone else's, dragging me away to land, and that's when I see him. Jack. I remember how desperate and scared his calls were to his father. How his fear matched my own. And how relieved we both were when his father resurfaced with my sister. I see him performing CPR and the water that my sister coughed up, but she still did not wake up. And Jack's father...he was shivering so bad and was already turning blue. I remember finally doing something and demanding that Rapunzel and Olaf get help. I see them run away. I see Jack holding his father just as I was holding Anna.
I see it all.
I've been seeing it for years. A constant replay of the worst night of my life. A night whose setting that I did not want to come back to.
So why the hell am I here? Why did he bring me here?
"Elsa?" Jack's soft voice manages to release me from my trance and the images of us fade away. The ghosts of the past. All currently alive and well...except one.
"Why did you bring me here?" I ask, my voice so low I'm unsure if I even said it out loud.
"Shit! You're crying. Elsa, I'm so sorry." He steps toward me, worriedly, and holds my hands, squeezing them tightly. "I didn't think you'd react this badly. I thought...fuck! I'm really sorry."
"I'm not..." I start, but a breeze cuts me off, chilling my face, which causes the streaks of tears that I didn't know were there to freeze. It was a sharp feeling, or maybe that was just the discomfort of being here. I wipe my tears away quickly and step away from Jack. "Why did you think I wouldn't react badly to being here? This place ruined my life, Jack. This place has been haunting me for years."
"I thought that since things are good between you and your sister–that she now knows the truth–that it wouldn't cause a negative reaction," Jack explains, frantically. "Maybe an awkward and uncomfortable one, but I didn't think it would trigger you. I...I wanted to bring you back so we can give it new memories and skate together without there being any people nearby."
I'm taken aback and for a moment I'm left stunned. New memories? "I...what? What do you mean?"
Jack smiles, soft yet sad. "For a long time, I hated this place after my dad died. This used to be our favorite hidden spot. We would come here every winter and have Hockey practice. But after his death it was a horrible reminder, which I know it is for you too. But, one day, just out of the blue, I decided to not be so hateful towards a place that gave me so many great memories. I wanted to focus on the happiness I would feel when being here instead of the one memory that haunts me too. I wanted to keep his memory alive. And so I did. And guess what? I fell back in love with it. I'm not asking you to do the same, but I am asking if you'd be willing to experience just a couple hours with me?" He extends his hand out to me, his eyes full of hope. "Let's replace that memory of yours with something good."
I stare at his hand for a long moment. I trust Jack with my life, so the temptation to skate with him was strong, but I still had my doubts. Obviously, from the skate marks, he must have already skated on it to test it out, causing a sick feeling to rumble in my belly. What if the ice wasn't thick enough and he fell? He's out here alone! He could have died. And what if it's only strong enough for one person? If I get on there with him now what if that's too much weight? I don't want to be a reason why...not again.
I step back, shaking my head. "N-No. I can't. What if–"
"You need to stop thinking about the what if's, baby girl," Jack interrupts, gently, as he holds my hands again. "You're never going to really live."
My vision is blurred again with tears. "What if it breaks Jack?"
"It won't," he reassures me, "And if it does, I'll take you back to land like I did last time."
"You can't do that if you've fallen through the ice."
"I'll just get out, easy peasy."
"But frostbite and hypothermia–" I cut myself off, hoping I didn't upset him by bringing up the causes of his father's death. "Jack, I don't know."
He nods, looking sad, which floods me with guilt. "Okay, I understand. I really am sorry. I didn't mean to trigger you. If you want we can leave, but," he reaches for the backpack that I didn't even notice he was wearing, unzips it, and pulls out a thick binder, "we can still stay and enjoy each other's company with this. Remember that time I convinced my grandpa not to put that stupid detention on your school record if I did something? And I told you that you owed me one?"
"Yes, I remember," but I was still very confused as to what all that in the past has to do with the present now. "That seems like forever ago."
"Indeed. Well," he chuckles and extends the binder out to me, "this is it. I know there's nothing more satisfying for relatives than seeing another relative embarrass themself, so I convinced him that if he doesn't do his job, I'll show you my baby pictures. He's never agreed with me so fast."
My eyes widened in shock. "Baby pictures?" I reach for the binder, flipping it open happily. "No way." My eyes light up at the sight of baby Jack and my smile is huge. It was as if a switch was flipped and no longer was I upset. Trust me, I still am, but these pictures are a good distraction. "There were very few pictures I saw at your house. I was actually disappointed to not see any of the embarrassing ones. They were still cute nonetheless."
Jack laughs and rubs the back of his neck nervously. "That's because I hid all the embarrassing ones without anyone knowing. Just in case you ever came over. I made sure only the cutest ones were displayed. Surprisingly, no one has noticed yet. I'm a little salty they don't pay attention."
I giggled as I continued to flip through the pages. As I did, Jack said: "Let's go sit by the tree. I shoveled the snow away earlier and brought two thick blankets for us to sit on."
He takes out the blankets in his backpack, surprising me again because how the hell did they fit in there? He unfolds the blankets, sets them out, and when he's done he sits down and makes himself comfy, patting the spot next to him. "Come hither."
I nearly snorted like Merida, but did as I'm told. When I'm comfortably seated, I relook at the pictures on the page I had seen a moment before, looking longer so I can remember it forever. I suppose I can look at them whenever I'd like as that should be part of the perks of Girlfriend Rights. At least that's what Anna would say. I wonder how she'd feel being back here? She doesn't remember what happened, but what if coming here brings those memories back? Like how it works in the movies. That would be seriously insane if that happened.
"You know, technically," I say as I flip the page, not once taking my eyes off the images below me, "this can't be embarrassing for you since no one else is here to tease you. So North isn't really getting his end of the deal."
"I can still feel embarrassed around you though," Jack responds, sounding serious, which took me off guard. He feels embarrassed around me? With how silly he acts, I never would have thought. "Plus, you're capable of teasing me, and I bet you're ruthless. You've been holding out on me. I know it."
I roll my eyes as I flip another page. "Let me guess. You can feel it in your belly?" I poked his stomach as I quoted his grandfather, and he squirms, seemingly ticklish. If Jack is ticklish then my night definitely got ten times better.
This time he rolls his eyes. "That's my grandpa's saying, so I can't use that cuz of copyright reasoning. Let's say I can feel it...hmm...in my–"
I quickly put a finger on his lips to shut him up. "Don't even finish that thought." Knowing him, and boys in general, he'd take it somewhere gross.
Jack laughs against my finger before he kisses it softly. "I was just going to say," he says as I remove my finger, noticing how much more warm it is compared to the others due to his kiss. "That I can feel it in my gallbladder. Man you have such a dirty mind."
I'm not sure if he's telling the truth or not, but regardless my face still heats up. "Whatever." I'm trying not to smile or pay him any attention, but it's so hard when his face is so close to mine. His lips. And while I'm unsure if he's staring at my lips while I think of his, I do see from the edge of my vision that he will not stop staring at me. It's like his eyes are trying to put my focus away from his baby pictures, and I'm really struggling against the fight to give in.
"Are you going to keep staring or kiss me already?" I ask, keeping my eyes on the pages.
"Hmm, someone's eager. Maybe later though. You're still trying to recover from my stupid decision to bring you here without asking."
I look at him now, wanting to protest, but...nothing came out. Until finally, I said: "Yeah, it was a stupid decision indeed." I smiled so he could know I was joking and he chuckled.
"Well," he points to a picture-book, "I have this to make up for it. And," he gestures to the lights, "I have all these pretty lights that I put up too. I did a damn good job making this scenery romantic, don't you think?"
I nod and quickly kiss his cheek. "You did. Thank you. I'm sorry I–" He cuts me off by putting his finger on my lips, just as I had done to him a moment before.
"Don't even finish that thought," he repeats my words, smiling. "Now," he takes the book from me and holds it in his lap. "Let's start from the beginning. Some of these I have memories for and others I have stories about because of my parents and grandma telling me when I was younger."
And so I scooted even closer to him, wrapping my arms around his right shoulder, and leaning my chin on his shoulder as I watched him flip to page one.
I spent the next 30 or so minutes listening to Jack's stories and laughing at his silly pictures. Pictures that involved his dad. When I saw him, it felt like my heart stopped. He didn't look that much different compared to the first time I saw him. Just younger looking. Tall and slender, brown hair and eyes. He looked so joyful in all the pictures, always smiling. Some pictures involved him also falling over. According to Jack, his dad was a huge clutz, but when he was skating on the ice, one would never guess.
Jack's love for skating came from him and they would practice every chance they could at this pond. His dad, according to Jack, was a big softie, and I just know that he and Anna would have a close bond. Him and I would too for our shared love of skating and Jack. He sacrificed his life for my sister.
I think it's time I thank him properly.
"As I told you before," Jack says when we come to the last page, "I tolerate Christmas time because of my dad...well...you know. It's not as hard anymore, but sometimes it can still sting. Knowing how much he loved Christmas though, more so than my grandfather, the town's resident Santa Clause, well it makes it a little easier. Because I know he wouldn't want me to hate his favorite holiday. He wouldn't want me to hold on to the past. And so I've let it go. But just because you've let something go and have moved on doesn't mean you'll forget the pain. The pain reminds you of why you moved on and shows you just how much you've grown when it doesn't hurt as much as before."
I let his wise words sink in, reflecting on my own past. I must have been too silent for his liking because he breaks me from my thoughts. "Elsa? You okay?"
I can't believe I'm going to do this, I think before getting to my feet.
Jack looks up at me with concerned eyes which turn to confusion when I reach my hand out to him. "You said your dad loved to skate. So do you and so do I. So...let's skate in his honor."
His eyes widened. "Babe, are you sure? You really don't have to. I don't want you to feel forced."
I shake my head, smiling to reassure him. "I'm okay now, Jack. A little warning would have been nice, but I promise I'm okay. And I also promise that I don't feel like I'm being forced or pressured. I want to honor him."
Jack's smile is wide, ear to ear, when he puts his hand in mind. I pull him to his feet and continue. "Plus, I want to see if your Sit Spin has improved."
"Absolutely not. You know I'm not that flexible."
Jack and I have been skating after school for the last month or so, never missing a day and always being there for hours, even after closing. And while we're there it's usually Jack doing some Hockey drills on one side of the rink and me re-learning how to do some skating spins and jumps (which have not at all been kind to me). I have fallen too many times to count, have gained a handful of bruises here and there, bruises that I wore with pride because I never thought I'd wear them on my skin again. Because these bruises are good. They mean that I am coming back to my true calling.
And I was so thrilled to not panic during my first major fall. A year after the accident, when I was 13, I tried skating again, fell and hit my head, got triggered by the memory of the year before, and said never again. But when I fell on the rink a few weeks ago, I didn't have that reaction. And man did it hurt. By not reacting like I did when I was younger, it proved to me my maturity and growth and passion. Because I wanted to keep going.
No matter what.
And so I fell and fell and fell numerous times. But Jack was there to help me up (and laugh at me). He even tried some of the moves I was attempting to do, which was the funniest thing I have ever witnessed. Now I pray that if I fall this time, it won't be a fatal one.
A few minutes later, Jack is rummaging through his bag getting our skates. He pulls out his own personal skates that he uses for practice, but when he pulls mine out, it was a wrapped box instead that was in his hands. I give him a confused look. "What's this?"
Jack smiles. "Open it and find out."
"Is that a Christmas gift?" I ask, having a feeling that it would be a pair of skates. I mean, it's kind of obvious since I don't see a pair for me from the Ice Rink.
Jack looks at the box and tilts his head. "Hmm, well it sure looks like a Christmas gift to me. Open it."
And so I do, more excited than I ever have been for any gift in my entire life. And sure enough, a new pair of ice skates lay in the box, white and sparkling blue. A gorgeous pair that I am honestly tempted to never try on and just display in my room somewhere. "Jack," I gasped, "these are beautiful!"
"Do you like them?" He asks, eyes sparkling with hope.
"Of course I do!" I couldn't help but be a little loud, too excited. "I love them, Jack. Thank you." I could feel how wide my smile was, cheeks slightly starting to hurt. "Help me put them on."
A few minutes later, Jack is helping me put on the skates and tying them up. I'm helping him next and together we're holding hands as we walk/hobble to the ice. "Ladies first," Jack says, winking, but then his demeanor changes faster than a second. "Wait, do you need me to go first since..." he trails off, probably not wanting to reignite my fear or remind me of why I was fearful to begin with.
"Actually, yes," I answered, still a bit skeptical.
And so, while still holding hands with me, Jack gets on the ice, and I'm nervous beyond measure. He gently pulls me to him and when my new skates connect with the ice, I couldn't help but release a gasp. It made me realize that I wasn't even breathing. I also realized I was shaking.
"Are you okay?" He asks, and I nod.
"Yeah, just give me a minute," I answer then sheepishly laugh. "God, I'm acting like this is my first time skating."
"Well," Jack kisses my hands, "let's practice like it is. Move your feet like this."
He demonstrates the basic moving motion, which I already know, but I follow his lead anyway. Eventually my shaking stops and my nerves have settled, taking me from a nervous wreck to a giggling mess with Jack. He has a way of making things better so easily.
"See?" Jack says after a while of being on the ice. "This isn't so bad when it's, ya know, actually completely frozen."
I roll my eyes at his playful jab. "Yeah, yeah. Whatever."
We're skating side by side now, our hands holding each other, and it was actually so nice and peaceful. It made me regret how I acted earlier. And as we skated around in circles, I couldn't help but repeat in my head over and over Oh my god, I can't believe I'm really back at the pond and skating on it. I never would have dreamed of this happening.
After a while, I finally decided that it's time.
"I want to do something," I say, squeezing his hand tightly, nervous and eager. "But I need you to get off the ice."
Jack's eyes widened in surprise. "You want me to do what? Girl, you were too nervous to get on it and had me get on it first. Now you want me to get off of it?"
"Just do it," I say, forcing back a laugh. His reactions can be quite funny.
"Only if you tell me what you're going to do," he replies, stubbornly.
"I'm going to do a triple axel," I say, nervous and yet...also confident if that makes sense.
Jack, who is in the middle of learning Figure Skating terms, is shocked again, seeming to know what a triple axel is. "A triple axel?" He repeats. "But you're struggling with a single axel."
"Thanks for the encouragement," I mumble, while he laughs. "And while that may be true, I feel that I can do it this time."
Jack's not convinced. "I don't know...why would you feel more comfortable and confident here than at the actual rink?"
I shrug, not fully knowing it myself. "I want to honor your dad and I feel that for some weird reason this will do the trick. Maybe it's the Christmas Spirit running through me. Maybe it's his spirit."
Jack's eyes are full of worry. "How about a single axel though?" He asks. "Figure Skating moves are literally so dangerous. I don't want you to get hurt. I hate seeing you fall and seeing your bruises. Plus, your skates are literally brand new. They need to be more worn in in order for such movement. The move you want to achieve won't happen in those skates."
I squeeze his hand again and stop moving, guiding him forward so he can stand in front of me, and then I cup his cheeks. "You're very sweet for worrying about me." I reached forward and kissed his nose, holding back a giggle cuz of his lips puckering just a bit, expecting a kiss. "But I think I can do this. I need to do this. To honor your father and...to do the one thing I have yet to do. Forgive myself."
Jack pursed his lips and I could see the wheels in his head spinning, uncertain if this is a good idea. A moment ago, I definitely wouldn't have thought so. But I know now that I truly won't be able to move on until I do this. Telling Anna the truth and getting forgiveness from her wasn't the only thing that needed to be done in order for me to move on. Telling her and Jack that I'm sorry wasn't enough. It wasn't only about Anna. It wasn't only about Jack.
It was about me too.
And that this whole time, I still had yet to forgive myself. Anna has known the truth for a while, same for Jack, and not once have they been angry or blamed me. Something I feared about for years, which resulted in me wasting years of my life with Anna. And during the time since she and Jack have known the truth, I've been focused on other things than forgiving myself. Like school, college plans, Hans, my parents, trying to grapple with the concept that the truth was revealed to Anna...forgiving myself was the last thing on my mind. I've been surviving and adapting to my ever changing environment.
But now...it's time. While it's on my mind. While the moment is right.
"Okay," he finally says, and reluctantly skates back to the land.
I didn't move until I saw him back on the snowy ground. I skated to the very center of the pond, took out my phone, and typed in my favorite instrumental song. Experience by Ludovico Einaudi. I've heard so many powerful and emotional instrumental pieces in my life, but there's something about Experience that makes me feel more than one emotion. It makes me feel devastatingly sad, overwhelmingly happy, invincibly powerful. The scenarios in my head range from those feelings and also feelings of betrayal and hope. I think that's what I feel the most when I listen to the song. Hope.
I press play, turn the sound all the way up, and put the phone back in my pocket. I stretch my arms and legs, blushing as Jack starts cheering. I ignored him, took a deep breath in, and started moving. Just like how I do when I practice, I made sure to focus more on the music and how it made me feel rather than if I was skating correctly or not. When I was younger that was how I was able to learn quickly. By feeling. I had forgotten that until I had gotten really frustrated one day a few weeks ago. I suddenly remembered that to feel is to experience and to experience is to learn.
I glided down the ice fast and (hopefully) graceful. I felt as if I was floating, flying, and when the time came, I prepared myself to jump. Pushing myself up with a force I didn't know I was able to conjure.
Glide. Push. Spin. Land.
One.
Glide. Push. Spin. Land.
Two.
Glide. Push. Spin. Land.
Three.
It all happened so fast and most of it was a blur. My eyes were closed during the quick spins and they were open during the brief moments where I needed to repeat my movement, but blur or no blur, I knew I had done it. It might not have been the most perfect form and the landings might have been a bit wobbly, but I still did it. Some could only dream about doing a stunt like that, and I had done so without breaking or spraining an ankle.
It might not have been perfect in the eyes of a scoring judge, but it was perfect to me.
I was breathing heavily after I stuck the landing for the final jump, my eyes wide in shock, unable to believe that I had actually successfully done it. Jack was cheering like a maniac, and he, too, couldn't believe it.
"Oh my goooddd! Holy shit!! Elsa you did it! No freaking way!! And I got it on video too! Let's gooooo!!" He was flailing his phone around and jumping (the best that he could with his skates on) like a child with a sugar rush, but his excitement was contagious.
I was smiling wide and was so overwhelmed by my success that I ended up crying again. Happy tears this time though. I gently dropped to my knees, tilted my head back, and let the tears fall. I focused on my breathing, trying to make it even, and also trying to not to full on sob. Can one sob happy tears? Perhaps my happy tears will turn sad. I don't want that. This is a good moment.
I don't want to shed tears of sadness again.
"Elsa? Are you okay? Why are you crying?"
I open my eyes and Jack is there by my side, staring down at me worriedly. I smile at him. He probably thinks I'm losing my mind, crying like this when I'm happy. "I'm happy. I finally let go."
"But I thought you already had before?" He questions, confused.
"I thought I did too," I answered, honestly. "But I guess this whole time I was just pushing it back. There's so much going on in my life right now, so much change, and I guess...I guess I wasn't quite ready yet because...because for years I've only ever known that scared little girl. That version of me. I wasn't quite ready to let her go yet because I wasn't ready to change into someone new. How do you be something you never were before? But this whole time I was already changing, whether I was aware of it or not. All the progress that I've made happened for this reason right here. For this moment. I had to change myself first in order to forgive myself, to be someone new so I could start anew, and it never would have happened if it wasn't for you."
Jack is staring at me with glossy eyes, looking as though he might cry. It could just be the lights he has wrapped around the surrounding trees. But then he says: "You have...such a way with words. Your voice speaks poetry. Spoken music. I just...I could listen to you talk all day if you'd let me." And then a tear is falling down his face.
"Oh no! Jack—" I go to stand up, but he leans down and puts his hands on my shoulders, keeping me in place.
"No, no. I'm good."
"Why are you crying? I was crying happy tears, your tears are sad—"
"No, they're happy tears too."
"But you look sad."
"That's cuz I'm trying not to cry at all. Literally fighting myself here."
"I would rather you be vulnerable with me than hold it on."
"Well, when I do, you panic and tell me to stop."
I couldn't help but laugh. "Touché, but you do the same. It's a force of habit. But really though, are you okay?"
He nods. "Yeah, I just...I got emotional because I love you. You don't understand how much you mean to me and how proud I am of you. Hearing or seeing you get emotional completely wrecks me. Even when it's happy tears. I don't think I did much to contribute to your growth—that was literally all you—but...you're welcome nonetheless."
I reach up to take his hand, squeezing it. "You did more than you'll ever know." I flash him a thankful smile, which he returns, and then I give him a playful tug downward. "Now come. Lay with me."
I laid back, enjoying the cold ice against my body, and looked over at Jack, who was now laying on his back too. He looks over at me and we giggle like children. Children...it's crazy to think that our lives were entwined all those years ago before we were teens.
A young boy hidden behind layers of clothes to cheer up a lonely girl without intimidating her. Hiding his face, but leaving his eyes for her to see. I wish I had sought him out that following year, but...he wasn't needed that year. He showed up when he was supposed to though and that's all that matters.
Because everything has led us to where we are now. And sometimes I wonder...if I had a chance to go back and change it...would I? Only if it meant that Jack and I would still end up together. But if not...I'm not sure. Going back and changing things between Anna and I has been my dream for years, but Jack changes that. So when I ask myself that question, I'm unsure how to answer. If I could go back in time and make things right with Anna in exchange for not knowing Jack anymore...would I take it?
I really don't know.
But it's a good thing that time-machines aren't real.
Time is though. It's so precious. It should never be taken for granted. I will live every moment of my life from now on spending it with those who deserve it, and making sure it was time well spent.
"Thank you, Jack." I whisper, feeling warm against the cold. It feels so nice.
"For what?" He asks.
"For bringing me here."
"So I didn't fuck up?"
"At first, yes. But I've changed my mind."
Jack lets out a sigh of release and pretends to wipe away sweat. "Thank god. I was going to feel bad about that forever!"
I find his hand and hold it, enjoying the feeling of his skin against mine against the ice. Two of my many favorite things. Jack and ice. "It's okay. You didn't know. This night definitely didn't turn out the way either of us thought it would."
"Indeed." He hums, then pauses for a moment to collect his thoughts. "Do you feel better? Like...how are you feeling? Genuinely?"
"Much better than before," I answer, being completely honest with him. "Successfully landing that triple axel really sealed the deal for me."
"I think the spirit of my dad was helping you out," Jack jokes.
"Well, if so, I greatly appreciated it."
And I meant it. I have faith that there's an afterlife and I'm hoping that wherever his dad is, if he can see us, that he's proud. I hope he's proud of Jack and Anna and me. I hope he continues to watch over us and one day...his grandchildren too.
Because one thing's for certain. I'm going to marry Jack. Not anytime soon, but one day in the future for sure. He's it for me. And maybe it's the stupid lighting again that's setting the mood and atmosphere, and maybe I've already said this before, but I swear I've never loved Jack as much as I do right now in this moment. Every other moment before? Forget about it. This moment right here is what Jack must have been aiming for. This feeling of unconditional love.
I'm moving before I can think, reaching over to kiss him, and causing him to release a sound of surprise that's cut off with my lips. He's quick to return the kiss, and it was our most passionate one yet. It could have melted the ice, and I'm sure if I wore glasses they'd be fogged over with steam.
"What was that for?" Jack asks, a stupidly happy grin on his face.
"What, I can't kiss my boyfriend?" I ask, teasing.
Jack quickly shakes his head. "Oh no you definitely can. Forget I said anything."
Smiling, I decided to answer his question. "It was for being the best boyfriend ever."
Jack smirks. "You are sooooo obsessed with me."
"Nevermind, I take it back."
"Nooooooo!"
Jack and I laugh together again before settling into a comfortable silence as we watch the stars. This goes on for a few minutes until something small and white starts to fall. Snow. It lands on our faces, melting immediately upon contact with our skin. Jack sticks out his tongue to catch some and I do the same, enjoying the silly childishness. I don't know when I'll get to be like this again.
"You want to know something babe?" Jack asks as I'm reaching my hand upward to catch some snowflakes.
"Hmm?" I say as I inspect the snowflakes that had fallen onto my pale fingers.
"Snowflakes and I have something in common."
"And what's that?" I ask, looking at him now.
"Well," Jack reached upward too, pausing his sentence while he let the snow land on his fingers. "Snowflakes fall..." he turns his head to look at me. "And so did I."