"God will punish you for your wickedness!" My aunt screamed through the door.
I pounded on the door for what seemed like an eternity. Soon I watched all the lights upstairs flicker out.
Unjust! Unjust! My insides cried. At that very moment I wanted to take flight and join my parents. To escape the torture of my life.
I could no longer feel my hands or feet. There was only a thin pair of pajamas between my skin and the wintry frost swirled about.
I looked around the door, hoping to find a pair of forgotten shoes, but no luck.
I remembered the neighbors to the house on the right had a large dog, their doghouse would give me some shelter from the wind.
Finding the wooden structure I climbed inside, quietly surprised and happy that there was a blanket. I wrapped up as tight as possible. I watch the snow drift from the pink sky, and I drifted off with it.
Grrr! The sound startled me, as did the bright light of day.
"What is it boy?" I heard a man's voice say.
The black and brown dog stared me down and I started to shake.
"Who is in your house?" The voice was closer. A kind a man's face appeared at the entrance. Shock then registered on his face.
"Little girl, are you okay? Come out of there." He commanded softly.
I crawled from the shelter. I tried to stand but my feet felt as if I were standing on a million needles.
The man picked me up.
"Where are you taking me?" My teeth chattered.
"Inside."
I swallowed, afraid of the consequences of my choices.
He took me inside his house and I could feel the warmth wash over me.
"Lena!" He called.
A round woman appeared from another room.
"Oh my goodness!" Her voice squeaked, "Sit her on the counter by the sink, and get me some towels."
He did as she asked. Lena turned in the water and started to fill up the sink.
"What's your name? What happened?" She put her hand on my arm, "goodness, you feel like ice."
The man returned with towels and a blanket. Lena caught his arm and whispered something to him. He nodded and left the room.
She wrapped the blanket around my body. She then took a towel and dipped it in the sink of water. After wringing it out, she put it gently against my forehead.
Moments later she removed the towel and I could see the rusty red color of blood, my blood. I looked down at my shirt, that too was cover with blood.
"What is your name, dear?" Her voice was soft and full of concern.
"Jane. Jane Eyre."