Ella was back to the cold cement, her chin tilted up towards the empyrean. The night sky looked down at her like a bottomless pit, the stars equivalent to the clouds of morning. Except these were prettier. Almost like glitter shining defiantly against the dark that so desperately wanted to eat her away.
Despite that, she felt close to them. The stars. Like she would be joining them soon. They smiled at her, but she was blinded by their light and didn't see the mischievous twinkle they held.
No good thing can last.
It began to snow. Ella, with only her thin pajamas to protect her, shuddered and sank further into the middle of the road. She watched as the snow danced to the ground and piled around her, watched as it covered her, watched as her fingers turned blue. The cold, though, was nothing compared to the agonizing, burning ice that clutched her soul.
No good thing can last.
The snow around Ella began to glow, and she was struck by metal on wheels. A tear slid down her face and she smiled, letting her eyes fade from the stars that finally looked satisfied.
...
The couple sped through the flurry of snow. Alex had her phone on, the text message gleaming brightly through her watering eyes.
I didn't give up, but I died fighting.
John had his foot jammed so hard on the gas pedal he feared it would break. His hands shook, white knuckled as he grasped the steering wheel. His face was pale and lips in a thin line, focusing merely ahead of him. The road was already covered in two feet of snow, making it difficult to navigate the tall black truck. Through the bright headlights they raced towards an indent in the snow, subtle enough to be seen as a shadow from the slender trees that creaked under the storm.
"What's that!?" Alex exclaimed, eyes following the imprint in the snow.
"Nothing important! We need to find Ella!" John spat, a mixture of emotions swirling into his gut.
"John, we should stop, I think that's-"
"Ella!" John shouted, jerking the steering wheel and slamming on the breaks.
...
But a little too late.
The snow stained crimson, and the black truck's front was destroyed by the spectating trees. Golf balls poured from the night sky, gloomy grey clouds covering the stars. Almost as if they wanted to hide while they grieved for their loss. Or gain? A star sat isolated, glowing brightly but growing dimmer as the time passed. Eventually, it too was covered by the detrimental fog.
No good thing can last.