Hello, and Happy New Year to All! New Year, Same Me, and just as dark and depressing, sorry if you were expecting something else. I saw the picture below and wrote something disturbing, about a woman out in the cold, knowing she can’t stop moving. It’s just as dark and creepy as it sounds… based on the photo provided by Jimmie.
Please note, starting next week I am doing biweekly posting for the microfiction and short stories. I will alternate weeks. More information to come Wednesday.
She squinted her eyes against the harsh glare of the winter sun, and it seemed wrong to her that it could be so bright and yet, so cold. The snap of a branch startled her into a gasp, that turned into a cough as the deep breath of frigid air burned it’s way into her lungs.
She turned, frantic, but there was no one in sight. She wasn’t being followed, yet. She couldn’t feel her feet anymore, and only the sound of the snow crunching beneath her with each step assured her that she was still moving forward.
She couldn’t say for certain how long she had been going, it felt like hours, and her running had long since slowed to a trudge. She couldn’t stop though, no matter how tired she was. If she stopped, even for a moment, she knew that she would never get going again.
If she was lucky, she would freeze to death, lying alone on a winding forest path. If she wasn’t lucky, he would find her, and she would only dream of getting such a sweet relief. Each new noise, sounding like pursuit, spiked adrenaline though her system and kept her moving. She went on hoping against hope that around the next bend, she would find someone to help her.
Finally, she saw a figure in the distance. Relieved, her legs gave out under her, and she was unconscious before her head hit the frozen earth.
Anne McSommers' Writing Nook 