Midnight Glide

Blue moonlight spilled in through the windows, lighting my way as I padded softly across the wood floor of the cottage. I held my skates by the laces, wincing each time they bumped together.
At the front door, I slipped my feet into my boots and lifted up on the door latch. A gust of wind blew inside, causing me to open the door much faster than I intended.

Creeeeeaak...

Eyes wide, I froze. When neither of my stepparents stirred in their room, I exhaled. I stepped out into the bitter cold night and latched the door closed behind me.

The moon glowed silver on the peaks of Hoarfrost Pass far to the north. The air was thin and clear, just about freezing my throat and lungs when I breathed. But I didn't care. In fact, I had not a care in the world at that moment.

I was free tonight.

I half-stumbled, half-slid down the slope to the edge of Running River. The ice was smooth and untouched, spreading all the way to Brick Bridge, beneath its arches and beyond. I smiled sadly, wishing I could follow the river to its end and escape my imprisoned life.

Swallowing my troubles, I sat in the powdery snow by the river's edge, threw off my boots, and began to lace on my skates.

Movement caught my eye and I looked up. Far out on the ice coasted the silhouette of a person. My heart jolted.

He came back for me.

I finished tying my skates and pushed off onto the ice.

Across the river, the silhouette turned to me, skating backward. I glided out in a half circle far to his side and he went the opposite way, connecting a circle.

We continued to skate, fly, skim, closer and closer. And without a word, we reached out and touched hands.

Our skates took us racing past the last of the cottages, beneath the bridge, through the mountain pass. We are still on our journey, always drifting further and further down the river's path. And now I know that he came to take me away from my nightmares and hopeless dreams, and into the beginning of a new life.