Jacq Strong

My Winter Spirit

Roses: for eternal love.

Beneath my fingers forms a small rose bud. I smile, my powers are working.

Lilies: for sweetness.

Beside me a lily blooms, its sweet scent taking me to a far off place. Other flowers bloom the colours of the rainbow as I sit among them. Their life force courses through my veins. I had created them. And it only took a simple thought.

Baby's breath: for…

A cloud passes over head, forming a shadow to loom across the valley. I freeze, I hate the dark.

The beautiful flowers I created with a thought wither and die around me as fear etches my heart.

I leap from my spot on the green grass, running for the sunlight ahead. There it's warm and safe and….

I'm back there. Back in that hell hole, my little dungeon. I can hear my terrified screams off in the distance. My breath turning into icy icicles in the air before me…

I blink, shaking my head furiously. As I run I trip and fall into a heap. I shut my spring green eyes from the world. Darkness swallows me again…

My fists bang against the wooden door as blood trickles down my bar back turning into red ice from the cold…

I shudder from the memory. I curl my small frame into a tight ball. I'm trapped in my own mind again. I hadn't been trapped since I became the Spring Spirit. The darkness and cold had been too much. So I ended it.

I ended my life.

No more darkness.

No more endless crying into the dark.

No more shivering to death every night because of the cold.

No more tortures. I was free. And I was with him…

Coldness wraps around one of my bare shoulders. I flinch away, letting the light pool into my vision once more. I look to my cold shoulder and there, atop it, sat a pale hand.

Confused, I sat up from the grass coming face to face with him.

My love, the Winter Spirit.

My breath hitches as I study his sculptured face that looks to be carved by the gods themselves. His icy blue eyes peered into my emerald orbs. Worry was easily detected in his blue pools. His crystal white hair stood out on all ends, each having to be different like his snowflakes.

His pale lips open, my name passes through them in a worried, but concerned, tone. His voice was as smooth as honey, but as fierce as the bees who made it.

I let out a sigh as I lean into his touch. My breath quickly turns to steam as it nears him.

He wraps his arms around me, bringing me into a tight embrace. My eyes widen as fear engulfs my chest. I shut my eyes. I was too close. The area was too small and he was too cold.

Suddenly, warmth pushed its way into my chest warming it to the core. I realised I liked this. I liked how close I was to him. And somehow, his cold comforted me.

A smile traced my lips. Funny to think that what once haunted me now comforts me.

I snuggle deeper into his chest. He paused for a moment before he started combing my golden hair with his slim fingers.

I closed my eyes, the darkness welcomed me with open arms and for once I wasn't afraid. His features now stood in the darkness. His smiling face was burned into my brain forever. I smiled happy with that tought.

I was happy, but I was scared. Scared the cloud would move on from my valley, taking the darkness with it. My Winter Spirit couldn't handle the sun like I could, so when the cloud moved on so does my love.

I open my eyes and he's gone. The sun now shines down on me, warming me to the core.

I hug myself, thinking of him. The pain of being with out him is unbearable. But I will see him again. Until then, farewell.

My Winter Spirit.