chapter 48. Journey Through the Snow

BELLE Elijah carried me with ease, never showing a single sign of fatigue. The tranquility of the forest surrounding us in addition to the comfortable silence between Elijah and me, made for a soothing environment. All that could be heard was the faint chirping of some birds nearby and Elijah’s rough steps in the snow. “So where would you like to go?” Elijah asked me about a mile into our hike. I set my chin down on his shoulder and sighed deeply. I didn’t want to make any decisions. I wanted to go to sleep. And then never wake up. It was like my head was filled with murky water, not letting a single clear thought through. I was drowning in the water, gasping for air, violently swimming upwards. Swimming, swimming, with no end in sight. My chest constricted painfully as if I was really in the water and my breath caught in my throat. I tightened my legs around Elijah’s waist, trying to calm my shaking, exhausted body. I shrugged weakly. “I don’t care,” I barely got out. “