Snippet of the Day
Sara quickly walked up the street, her skis and poles over her shoulder. The roads were dark and desolate. She headed toward the trail Jake had taken her to Thanksgiving Day, hoping he was there. She dropped her skis in the snow, clicking her boots into the brackets. She turned on her headlamp, adjusting the brightness. Bright light flooded the trail ahead of her that wove through the tall, snow- covered pines.
She listened to the snow fall steadily, a light crinkling sound as millions of flakes fell. Sara pushed off. Her skis cut through the snow, her legs gliding down the trail, her muscles coming back to life with a slight burn. She breathed deeply, calming herself with the rich, woodsy scent. Sara adjusted her light again, thinking she could see the faint tracks of Jake’s skis.
She saw the clearing ahead, hearing sounds of civilization. Orange light pulsed through the darkness as a plow passed. She stopped at a group of large boulders at the mouth of the trail. She unclipped her boots from the skis, sitting down. Across the highway a group of kids congregated in front of the convenience store.
She listened to the snow fall steadily, a light crinkling sound as millions of flakes fell. Sara pushed off. Her skis cut through the snow, her legs gliding down the trail, her muscles coming back to life with a slight burn. She breathed deeply, calming herself with the rich, woodsy scent. Sara adjusted her light again, thinking she could see the faint tracks of Jake’s skis.
She saw the clearing ahead, hearing sounds of civilization. Orange light pulsed through the darkness as a plow passed. She stopped at a group of large boulders at the mouth of the trail. She unclipped her boots from the skis, sitting down. Across the highway a group of kids congregated in front of the convenience store.
“They’re probably hoping for a snow day tomorrow.”
Sara jumped, her poles falling into the snow.
“Jesus,” she gasped, holding her chest. Dale was sitting next to her. She couldn’t help but stare. He’d never spoken to her before. Had he sensed all the turmoil?
“I’m sorry. I was hoping I wouldn’t do that.” His deep laughter filled her ears. Sara kneaded her temples, shooting him a sideward glance. He was perched on the rock next to her, the heels of his black boots anchored into the granite, his elbows resting on his knees, another visitor unfazed by the weather. He was wearing a sleeveless white T-shirt. A large tattoo covered his upper left arm, a black panther snarling, gnashing its teeth. Sara cocked her head at him. He looked different, his hair buzzed close to his scalp. He spoke her thoughts.
“It’s the hair.” He smiled. “I seem to be molting into another creature. Oh, by the way...you just missed him.”
“Shit.” She looked away. What she wouldn’t give for a simpler life. She’d rather be back at home arguing with her mother about how often the bathroom should be cleaned.
“So, um, when did he leave?”
“You only missed him by an hour or so. He stopped here, just like you, went across the street for a coffee, and headed back.”
They sat for a few minutes. An occasional vehicle passed on the snow-covered roadway. Dale got down to business, slinging the dirt of the past faster than Sara could comprehend it.
“He’s a bizarre creature, that Jake, isn’t he?” His blue eyes gleamed. “The ladies used to call him the ‘oversexed charmer.’” His velvety laughter filled the quiet woods around them. Sara felt her brows lift. Their naked bodies flashed in her mind, as a flash of heat rushed over her face. She didn’t know if it was Dale’s presence pulling it out of her, or Jake’s openness where sex was concerned. It was hard for her to be angry or embarrassed. He’d really set her free, allowing her to be a woman again and embrace her once-dormant sexuality, something she hadn’t known existed, even with David.
Sara jumped, her poles falling into the snow.
“Jesus,” she gasped, holding her chest. Dale was sitting next to her. She couldn’t help but stare. He’d never spoken to her before. Had he sensed all the turmoil?
“I’m sorry. I was hoping I wouldn’t do that.” His deep laughter filled her ears. Sara kneaded her temples, shooting him a sideward glance. He was perched on the rock next to her, the heels of his black boots anchored into the granite, his elbows resting on his knees, another visitor unfazed by the weather. He was wearing a sleeveless white T-shirt. A large tattoo covered his upper left arm, a black panther snarling, gnashing its teeth. Sara cocked her head at him. He looked different, his hair buzzed close to his scalp. He spoke her thoughts.
“It’s the hair.” He smiled. “I seem to be molting into another creature. Oh, by the way...you just missed him.”
“Shit.” She looked away. What she wouldn’t give for a simpler life. She’d rather be back at home arguing with her mother about how often the bathroom should be cleaned.
“So, um, when did he leave?”
“You only missed him by an hour or so. He stopped here, just like you, went across the street for a coffee, and headed back.”
They sat for a few minutes. An occasional vehicle passed on the snow-covered roadway. Dale got down to business, slinging the dirt of the past faster than Sara could comprehend it.
“He’s a bizarre creature, that Jake, isn’t he?” His blue eyes gleamed. “The ladies used to call him the ‘oversexed charmer.’” His velvety laughter filled the quiet woods around them. Sara felt her brows lift. Their naked bodies flashed in her mind, as a flash of heat rushed over her face. She didn’t know if it was Dale’s presence pulling it out of her, or Jake’s openness where sex was concerned. It was hard for her to be angry or embarrassed. He’d really set her free, allowing her to be a woman again and embrace her once-dormant sexuality, something she hadn’t known existed, even with David.
“Don’t overthink things.” He waved a finger.
“No, it’s just that...”
“Not all tortured souls are dead.”
Sara’s body trembled at his words. “You mean Jake? Mr. Smooth and Uninhibited?”
“No, it’s just that...”
“Not all tortured souls are dead.”
Sara’s body trembled at his words. “You mean Jake? Mr. Smooth and Uninhibited?”
OPEN SPACES
No comments:
Post a Comment