As soon as I stepped off the bus, I braced for the worst.
The snow, the wind, the cold;
It chapped my skin.
It stole my breath.
It hurt my heart.
I hurried down the sidewalk, my shoes slipping in the salty slush.
Any place on Earth, I'd rather be.
But here.
The gray snow sickened my core.
Ruined my mood.
Stopped my life.
But then I heard a shout.
I heard a laugh.
I saw two kids. One pulling the other in a sled.
He smiled as he pulled her. She laughed as she flew.
She leaned back and looked at the sky.
The snow, the snow fell softly on her face. Her smile widened.
His laugh grew.
The two noticed no cold, felt no misery.
My own childhood flashed before my eyes,
My sister and I flying so fast down that hill,
The snow crunching beneath.
Hour upon hour,
Up hill and down.
Our fingers numb, our feet wet, our bodies tired.
But our souls lighter than ever, our happiness full.
The two children went on.
Their smiles unyielding.
I went on, too.
As I turned back around, the cold took my breath again,
but this time, I let it.
And smiled.
