Prologue
I realize that global warming exists and that each winter is less severe than the last, yet, it still feels too chilly for mid September, even if it is Colorado. I can't help but feel that if it is to be cold, there should be a soft, pure layer of snow falling to the ground in order to combat the endless gloom given by the barren trees, cloudy skies, and whistling wind. Yes, I wish it were snowing.
"Raina! Have you been listening to anything I've said so far?"
Startled, I turn away from the foggy window and drop my cold hand back at my side to look at my now smirking best friend, Debora.
Managing to stutter out a horrified, "O-of course! Why wouldn't I be?" I dramatically splay my fingers on my chest in shock.
Debora smiles like a Cheshire cat- she knows she has me. "Really? What was the last thing I said?"
"... well, if it were the least bit interesting, I would've listened!" I roll my eyes and huff.
She rolls her eyes as well and groans before grabbing a pillow off of my tiny, plain white bed and chucking it in my direction. Catching it, I walk towards her.
"Tsk, tsk. You won't ever grow up!" I tease before planting myself on the bed in place alongside hers.
"Shut up! Like your one to talk, aren't you? Ugh, anyways, I was saying that school begins tomorrow and we need to make the best of our senior year- no more screwing around. I want to have that college experience with you, Raina... I wouldn't survive on my own and you know that. Especially if I live with my dad until I'm really old... like thirty!" She exclaims trying to lighten the mood towards the end so I simply nod to show my understanding. Debora has had enough ups and downs in her life and I can't help but be thankful that she has begun to maintain that childlike innocence and mentality about her- at least whatever little is left of it.
The rest of the night passes all too quickly with a main focus of mourning the loss of summer and a recount of too many memories. But, I know that we'll regret the next morning when we're stumbling over our feet because of drooping eyes to walk to school.
I'd do anything for a night like that again.
It has been a month since school has begun and already there is no semblance of personal time. Debora has only come over once since the last time. But, I suppose that's okay because our classes challenge us daily and work is never nonexistent because neither is the need for money. However, October 16th marks another day altogether- it marks the day of the colder season's first snow that appears as a wonderful surprise in the morning.
As my foot crosses the doorway in the morning, I bound across my steps to the sidewalk with my head down and frozen fingers pulling my black pea coat closer around me. My mind is too fully focused on a nightmare that I haven't had in an incredibly long time to notice the soft snow peppered across the concrete crunching under my white loafers.
I usually believe that I hold no preference for weather because it's not my place to question or formulate opinions on Mother Nature's cycle because I hold no power over any of it. Not only that, but it must be understood that beauty resides in every facet of the earth, regardless of what many would believe or prefer. However, even I prove to be a hypocrite in that regard. It evokes many mixed feelings within me to observe snow, something with such great purity and gentleness, because it can cause the unlikeliest of harmful events towards all beings.
After standing there completely lost in thought for a few minutes, I snap back to reality as a shudder races up my spine and goosebumps form along my arm. Surprisingly enough, it's not because of any wind. In fact, there is none. It's quiet- too quiet. Pursing my lips and dropping my head to let my dark hair provide a cover for my icy nose, I move along the road in quick strides and savor the tiny crunch beneath my shoes. Only a handful of minutes later, I arrive at the bus stop and stand behind a small group of incessantly chattering individuals. Peaking over the group to spot the approaching yellow bus proves to be an easy feat with my towering height of 5'9" in comparison with the majority of people at my school. For some strange reason, they're all pretty short. Even Debora is only of average height, something that I know for a fact annoys her when I use it to my advantage.
The rest of the day passes by quickly enough because, before I know it, I am clocking out of my work at the local grocery store and slipping on my jacket before my backpack for the long, twenty minute trek home. I pull out my phone and keys from my purse and slip them into my pockets before tucking my purse into my jacket. The sun has almost finished dipping into the horizon completely as the orange tint fades from the sky to be replaced by a spectrum of dark colors and cooler temperatures. The roads are still incredibly busy as cars zoom past and ruffle my clothes and hair. I really should have worn boots. As the feeling begins to fade from toes and my eyelids begin to droop enough to cover my hazel eyes, I focus on counting the lampposts along the street rather than the exhaustion piling up throughout the day and the unfortunate amount of homework I plan to finish before giving in to sleep.
A vibration jolts me out of my inner musings and intense concentration as I pull out my flip phone and discover a text from Debora but, before I'm able to respond, my feet move out from under me and my hands drop my phone to extend themselves in order to catch my fall. My palms take the brunt of the force and I escape serious injury with only a few scrapes upon my hands and knees. Sighing in frustration over my fall, I berate myself for not dividing my attention properly and pick up my perfectly unscathed phone to turn and look back at the object of my doom. A simple crack in the sidewalk. Rolling my eyes, I begin to turn but something shines out of the crack from the street lamp above. Crouching down to better observe the object, I pick it out to find a tiny and incredibly dirty old coin.
"Huh. I wonder if it's real gold... it's ancient," I mutter to myself with curiosity.
Suppressing the perfectly innocent gleam in my eyes, I slip the coin into another pocket for further investigation for when I arrive home. The rest of the walk home was unnoticeable as I finally bounded up the front steps to greet my parents and shovel the awaiting lukewarm dinner into my mouth appreciatively while my mother would glare disapprovingly but my father would simply grin in amusement. However, with the impending torture of homework, it slipped my mind that there ever was a coin in my pocket as I later tidied up my desk after several hours of homework for some much needed rest.
Unfortunately, I would not forget for long.
Author's Note: Thank you for reading! I would also really appreciate some feedback so that I can understand if my writing is at all interesting or captivating. Constructive criticism is welcome! Please and thank you! :)
