WINTER GHOST P 2HOWLSI flinch at the tiny shards of ice that scrape against my face and shut my eyes tight until the wind changes direction. When I open them I see that she has closed her eyes again as well. It’s almost like she’s sleeping. Naked except for her nightgown, her supple form could be lying in plush white bed covers. Radiant skin stands out in stark contrast to the snow. Soft legs rise out like tranquil islands in a white sea, undisturbed by the harshness of the blizzard churning around us. I almost don’t want to disturb her.But she must be cold.I bend down, sinking one knee deep into the snow despite the cold. Carefully I slide my hands beneath her. Frozen snow slides up my sleeves but I don’t stop.Another blast of ice and wind screams over my back, across my neck and burns my ears raw.She can’t have been here long, not with skin so warm. Her eyelids flutter slightly, like the wings of a butterfly, as I take hold of her but otherwise she doesn’t stir. Not even as I pull her from the blanket of snow.Again the wind bawls, flying down the alley almost as if in protest.She is so light. It’s like there’s not much of her at all.More icy snow rails across us and I pull her even closer. Her warmth pours through my thin jacket and seeps into my chest.She is so soft that I’m afraid to hold her too tight… I might hurt her.Her eyebrows are furrowed ever so slightly but somehow her face is still peaceful. I… I’ve never seen her before but… something…… in the slope of her nose…… the pout of her lips…… the fan of her eyelids…… something is so very familiar.How did she get here?I look up, squinting through the wind and snow and see that of the two homes set on either side of this alley; only one has a light on.One light, in one window, on the top floor of the house. But there is too much falling snow for me to see it clearly. It’s just a blurry haze of amber light so I can’t tell if it’s open.Could she have fallen from that window? Is someone looking for her?Of course they are. She must have come from this house. If someone is still inside then they must be worried for her. I turn with her in my arms toward the front of the alley.The snow is so deep now that I’m taking huge awkward steps to get through it. Her toes are dragging in the piled snow and I try… but I can’t lift her any higher.Almost to the front, she’ll be home soon.The wind is picking up and changes direction again. It howls down the alley once more driving another cloud of snow into us, almost forcing us back into the alley.It’s so strong… I can barely move forward.It’s so loud… almost like… it’s angry.At the opening of the alley now and I can see the storm is getting worse. It hasn’t abated at all since I got off work. The sky has grown even darker and the snow is so thick in the air that I can’t see across the street to the other homes. Huge wind blown drifts of snow are waist high most places… and in others it looks to be piled higher than my head. The city is going to be at least a week getting out from under this.At least the snow is still fresh. I can kick though most of it and I wade toward the front of the house. Just one step at a time… just get her inside before we both freeze to death.I march on. The tempest still fights us. As we emerge from the alley I see the snow covered steps leading to the house’s front door to our right.Almost there. I pull her tighter to me. The twin bushes at the front steps sway back and forth in the wind throwing snow all about them. Wads of it pelt us as I plod on toward the steps. The snow is even higher here… but we’re so close.More wind… more snow… I close my eyes to the attack and take another step.I almost trip as I stub my toe against the bottom of the steps. So I grit my teeth and open my eyes. In front of me, at the top of the steps is a huge recessed doorway. Partially hidden in its shadow is a large wooden door.The wind howls in protest as I place my foot onto the first step…
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