Page 13 - HEF Pen & Ink 2020

wouldn’t have to be alone. ———
DURGA
by Leigha Carter
She stepped into the cold night air after saying her goodbyes. The wind had a nip unusually frigid
for the season. Reah hurried to her car and started it. The thermometer read two degrees. Reah drove home carefully on the slick roads, planning all the food she would prepare for her brothers and herself tomorrow, should they come. She had already set out the tur- key on the counter to finish thawing. Turning off the highway onto the dirt road that led to her driveway, Reah began fantasizing about the colors Faith’s foal might be. Would it be a filly or colt? What would she name it and how would she begin its training?
Suddenly, something jumped out in front of her. Reah slammed on the brakes. Her tires caught nothing but ice, and she slid off the road into a tree. The doe bounded into the night, unharmed.
Before it died, the car’s thermometer read thirteen below outside. Reah had seen no other vehi- cles on the road her entire way home. No one would come looking for her. The only advantage staying in the car had was that it was safe from the wind, but the temperature would soon plummet. Reah knew that if she stayed, she could freeze to death by morn- ing. It was only a mile and a half to her house, albeit uphill, but maybe she could make it. It was her only
hope. Before opening the door and stepping out into the snow, she made sure her facemask was secure and shoved her phone into her pocket. There would be no cell reception until she reached her living room.
and numb. The wind, now hitting her from the side, stung her exposed skin, and her mind was growing increasingly sluggish. The sparkling snow looked soft and beckoned her.
Reah stepped into the cold night air, shoulder- ing herself into the wind and towards home.
“I should stay on the road. It’s longer, but people can find me,” she thought to herself.
“I’m so sleepy.”
Snow swirled around her, scooting along the ground. Despite the wind, the sky was clear, and the rising quarter moon gave Reah just enough light to
You have to keep moving.
see by. “Thank you, Jesus. In any other situation, I would say it is a beautiful night.”
Don’t stop.
After walking fifteen minutes, Reah finally reached her driveway. Turning onto it, the wind was to her back, giving her face brief relief.
It became a singsong chant in her mind; her legs plodded on in rhythm, wanting to collapse but never quite giving out. Her steps had grown slower since starting out. Reah couldn’t feel her legs or her face and her arms had grown numb inside her coat.
“One mile to go. Man, it’s cold!”
She trudged up the hill, stumbling more and more as she went. Her toes were numb. She couldn’t do anything about it. Reah had pulled her hands into her coat to keep them warm, but the hill required her to pull them out again to help keep her balance. Rounding a corner, she reached the top and stum- bled on. Reah’s phone beeped at her, warning her
its battery was low. She didn’t notice. She was cold
“Look at the pretty stars...” Reah said out loud, tilting her head up to see the billions of lights twinkling in the sky. The movement almost made her tip over sideways. Somehow Reah staggered on, only a quarter mile left to go.
“Just a moment’s rest.”
“I’m so tired.”
I know. Just keep moving.
God, I’m so cold! she cried out internally. A warmth swept over her, just enough to comfort her and strengthen her resolve to keep going.
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