As the helicopter got closer and closer to the top of the mountain, Maria got more and more excited. She had never been skiing before, but Philip had learned to ski at a very young age and assured her that she would enjoy it immensely.

"My friends and I came here often when I was a teenager," he told her. "There are beginner's slopes for people like you who are just learning. It's not difficult at all and you'll have so much fun. Trust me." He seemed particularly animated as he relived old memories. She couldn't wait to see for herself if he was right.

Finally the helicopter reached the top and they found the beginner's slopes. Philip, to whom skiing came as naturally as walking, went on the beginner's slopes himself to keep Maria company.

At first she felt awkward when wearing the skis and handling the poles for the first time. He patiently explained to her the best way to keep her balance and ski straight, and she tried very hard to follow his directions exactly.

Her first trip down the mountain was awkward. She fell a couple of times and was embarrassed. He helped her up and stayed with her until they were at the bottom and waiting for the helicopter again.

Her second trip down the mountain went more smoothly. She only fell once, and he told her that she was a fast learner.

They skied down the beginner's slope together several more times, and each time the trip down seemed smoother. She began to relax and enjoy herself. It was like nothing she had ever experienced before. She felt as if she were flying. It was the most exhilarating experience she had ever had.

At first she thought that someone had thrown a snowball and hit her in the back of the head. Then it felt like a solid wall of snow hit her from behind and knocked her flat. She couldn't see anything but white. She moved her arms and legs in a swimming motion in the direction she thought must be up, but the snow was so heavy. She felt so weak and disoriented, and her hands and feet were going numb. She thought that she heard voices, but they sounded so muffled through the blanket of snow covering her. She began to feel drowsy and fought with all her might to stay awake, because she knew that if she fell asleep she would never wake up. Keeping a pocket of air in front of her face so that she wouldn't suffocate, she continued to struggle, although by now moving her limbs took tremendous effort. Suddenly she felt her fist break through a barrier of some kind. Excited, she waved her exposed arm with all her might. Her pocket of air collapsed and she got a mouthful of snow.

"I found her! She's over here!" It was a male voice and she could hear it clearly. Seconds later, two men were pulling her up out of the snow. Philip? She looked from one face to the other. Neither of them were Philip, but he was there within seconds, gently gathering her up into his arms.

"Maria...oh my God, Maria..." He sounded as if he were crying. "Speak to me, please sweetheart, say something, say anything..."

She tried to speak, but all she could do was cough up snow. She made retching noises and was suddenly gasping huge gulps of frigid air, which was very painful. Tears came to her eyes.

"Thank God." His voice shook as he hugged her to his chest as tightly as he could.

Her teeth chattered so hard she could barely speak. "Ph-Ph-Philip?"

"It's going to be all right, darling. I've got you now. Everything's going to be fine."

She was placed inside another helicopter, this one taking her not back to the top of the mountain, but to the nearest hospital to be treated for hypothermia. He held her tightly the whole way, caressing her and saying her name over and over again.

When the helicopter landed, he helped to lower her onto a stretcher. She was rushed to the ICU, where blanket upon blanket was piled on top of her and tucked in all around her. She was still shivering uncontrollably. She felt as if she would never be warm again.

She stayed in the ICU for a long time as the medical personnel struggled to get her body temperature stabilized. Philip was by her side the whole time, helping her to sit up and making her drink cup after cup of black coffee and clear broth.

Finally, her teeth stopped chattering enough that she was able to talk.

"What happened?" she asked.

"There was an avalanche," "he told her. "The owners of the ski resort told me they had taken every precaution, used explosives and everything. But it happened anyway." He sounded like he still couldn't believe it. She was completely bewildered.

"Don't try to talk now, sweetie. Just relax and try to get some rest. We'll talk some more when you're feeling better." He stroked her hair, and she closed her eyes. She was asleep almost instantly.

It was a couple of days later. Maria was out of imminent danger and had been moved from the ICU to a regular hospital room. The medical personnel thought it best that she be kept for another day or two for observation, just to be safe.

Her hands and feet felt as if sharp pins and needles were sticking in them. The doctors and nurses taking care of her said that that was a very good thing, that it meant that all of her fingers and toes were still alive, that they were not frozen.

One doctor remarked on how fortunate it was that she had dressed as warmly as she had.

"So many tourists underestimate just how bitterly cold it can get sometimes up here and don't dress warmly enough. We see so many cases of frostbite in the winter, I couldn't begin to tell you how many."

Maria remembered that it had been Philip who had insisted that she wear so many layers of socks and gloves.

"My husband grew up near here," she told the doctor. "He told me how warmly to dress."

"Well, he gave you excellent advice," the doctor told her.

After the doctor had left, Philip said, "I feel just awful about what happened, Maria. I wish that we had never come here. I wanted to share with you some of the experiences I enjoyed while growing up. Instead I almost got you killed."

"It wasn't your fault, Philip. You had no way of knowing the avalanche was going to happen."

"I knew that it was a possibility. I could have told you that, but I didn't." He paused. "I didn't want to frighten you."

"I wanted to come, darling." She touched his hand. "Even after what happened, I'm not sorry that we came. I'm glad I got to see the mountains, and riding in the helicopter was fun."

"Hey, I'm supposed to be comforting you, and instead you're comforting me." He grinned, and she laughed for the first time since the accident had happened.