《Hi I'm Winter》


 Preface: Greetings from Winter

    I am Winter, as far as you know. My mind has always worked a little weird. Thoughts strange and vivid would flash into my mind growing up, dark ones, and sometimes nice ones. I never knew what to do with them until I started writing fiction as a teen. While my fledgling material isn''t the best written, it was twisted and odd.


    I once wrote about a ten year old boy trapped in a metal cabinet, when he hid inside during and earthquake and was trapped under rubble. By the end, that boy had screamed for help so much his vocal cords tore as he coughed blood. The hunger and pain of his injuries were so severe that he ended up biting his wrists to chew out his veins. He bled out and died. Suffice it to say, the feedback I got wasn''t wholly positive, some stating excessive violence and accused me of writing tragedy smut, but I was in a dark place in life, and I needed to write down what pain felt like.


    The other one was about a grieving widow attempting suicide after her husband''s death haunts her for months. Here''s an excerpt:


    "Cassie sat up quietly, cupping her face with her hands. It felt so real; he felt so real. They were eating BLTs by the lake. She watched him fish out the thin slices of tomato on his half of the sandwich and neatly place them on his paper plate like he always did. They talked about some movie they had never seen. He sounded happy. He wasn''t stressed anymore.


    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    She opened her eyes to the dark cold room. The power had gone out so the heating shut off. Her skin felt like a plucked goose, pebbly and dry. She suddenly felt very exposed. She wanted him to hold her again. She remembered their vacation to the old run down ski resort. That night they had to huddle under a thick blanket, it was the only thing they could do, the frost had blown the radiator pipes. Being from the south, Cassie was not used to the cold back then, but Daniel held her all through the night, whenever she felt the shivers come on, he held her tight to his warm body, and let go if she needed him to. He stayed up that night trying to keep her warm, and now she was cold again, but he wasn''t there. He wasn''t there, and she wanted to be with him. As all the memories she repressed came flooding in, Cassie fumbled for the handle of her dresser drawer until she saw the cold glint of metal."


    The particularly gruesome stuff I want to leave out of the introduction note, I hope you understand. As melancholic as the subject matter I like to write about, I want to write some nice wholesome stories too. Hopefully I''ll get to writing some. So if you think you''re interested, drop a follow, or a read, or however you can find me again. Id also love suggestions for future stories if you want to share them. Hell, I might just start with a wholesome one.

 Meg and Annie: Sick Day

    Annie stood over the kitchen sink, looking out the window into the dusty street below as swarms of pedestrians trod by on their morning commute. Here and there little children ran around in their dusty, torn up clothes; the chittering of their laughter being carried up to the fourth floor window. A street peddler, with his enormous basket of peanuts atop his head, strode along with ardent fervor, getting ready for what he hoped would be a good day¡¯s sale. It was quite a pleasant morning, cool and breezy, with a playful wind weaving through the dry foliage outside making the leaves rustle softly, adding to the peaceful ambiance of birds chirping in the distance. Annie wasn¡¯t all too familiar with the area just yet, she¡¯d only moved in around a month ago. It was a nice change in scenery from her previous apartment, but It was all still new to her.


    Sighing softly, she began to turn around when a slender arm snaked around the back of her neck and pulled her into a tight embrace.


    Meghan felt warm.


    Evidently, she¡¯d just woken up. Dark brown curls cascaded down Annie¡¯s shoulder as Meghan rested her head on it, snuggling softly into her neck, as the dark earthy hues of her hair brushed delicately over Annie¡¯s silky black locks. Closing her eyes, she lightly lay her head on Meghan¡¯s. She could hear her soft breathing, feel it blow across her skin. Annie tried to stand still, adamant in her efforts to not let her partner know how much she was enjoying this.


    ¡°What¡¯re you doing up so early?¡± came the muffled voice of Meghan from her refuge in Annie¡¯s neck.


    ¡°I should be asking you the same question. Why are you out of bed, don¡¯t you have a fever?¡± chided Annie.


    ¡°I woke up and you weren¡¯t there, so I came looking for you¡± replied Meghan, lifting her face off of the soft alcove and smiling meekly up at Annie. Her nose and cheeks were flushed red as she wiped her nose with a piece of lavender scented tissue paper.


    ¡°What, are you scared to be alone? You¡¯re a grown woman, Meg¡± Annie inquired admonishingly.


    ¡°It¡¯s not that, it¡¯s...¡± Meghan looked a little embarrassed. ¡°It¡¯s just that, I missed you and I wasn¡¯t feeling well, so I wanted to find you.¡± She was looking at the ground, as if she¡¯d regretted saying the words as they came out of her mouth.


    Now Annie was the one with her foot in her mouth. Meghan had been sick all night, tossing and turning like she was fighting kangaroos in her sleep again. Of course she didn¡¯t want to be alone. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t worry,¡± she said encouragingly, ¡°The fever¡¯s probably making you loopy. Here, let¡¯s get you to bed.¡± she said as she put Meghan¡¯s arm around her neck and propped her up with her own. ¡°Ooh, you¡¯re getting heavy. Maybe try that diet I told you about.¡± Annie teased.


    ¡°Nah,¡± laughed Meghan mischievously, ¡°I just like you carrying me like this.¡± she said, putting the rest of her weight on her feet.


    ¡°Oh you little shit.¡± laughed Annie, walking Meghan to the bedroom and plopping her on the bed. ¡°Now get some sleep this time, you hear? No more wandering.¡± instructed Annie.


    ¡°Yes, Ma''am!¡± said Meghan in a mock salute.


    ¡°Good girl,¡± said Annie, smiling as she got up from the bed. As she began to leave, Meghan caught her hand.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to stay with me?¡° asked Meghan longingly.


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll be right back, I¡¯m gonna make us some tea.¡± replied Annie.


    ¡°Milk tea?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, with lots of sugar, a sprinkle of cinnamon and cream on top.¡± Annie said.


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    Meghan smiled warmly.


    ¡°Did I miss anything?¡± Annie asked with a knowing smile set across her sharp features, trying not to look Meghan in the eyes.


    ¡°Not one thing.¡± Meghan giggled sweetly, and then started coughing loudly.


    ¡°Hey, hey, lie back down. I¡¯ll get you that tea.¡± Annie said, patting her back and helping her lie down onto the pillow. As she lowered the brown haired girl, she realized how close they were to each other. She had to keep looking away from Meghan¡¯s eyes, because if she looked, she¡¯d fall deep into them, just like always. No, this time she needed to resist. She had her finals two weeks away and catching Meghan¡¯s bug could prove catastrophic. All that said, they were still so close. Annie could smell the cough medicine mixing strangely with her vanilla bath soap. She felt warm.


    ¡°Hey wait,¡± interjected Meghan, causing Annie to look up into her eyes.


    ¡°What?¡± She asked, smiling. Meghan found her eyes and stared deep into them, her own smile growing.


    ¡°What?¡± Annie asked again, this time barely above a whisper, as she sat down beside the beautiful girl trying to wear down her defenses.


    ¡°Come closer Ann.¡± Meghan said softly, raising her face a little towards her. ¡°Won¡¯t you kiss me?¡±


    She had the most infuriating puppy dog eyes, and her full reddish lips seemed to quiver as she spoke. Annie just looked at her, drank her in at that moment, and killed something deep within herself .


    Invoking all her willpower, she pulled her mind away from her screaming heart and said, ¡±Stop it, you¡¯ll get me sick.¡± She hoped Meg couldn¡¯t see her blush, but she was sure she could feel how warm her face was.


    ¡°That¡¯s the idea,¡± Meghan giggled, ¡°then we could both be in bed all day.¡± laughed Meghan.


    ¡°Yeah, and the landlady will take care of us right? ¡± quipped Annie, giving in just a little as she softly kissed Meghan on the cheek and pulled herself away to make tea.


    As she left, Meghan slumped onto her pillow. It was a bit uncomfortable, but she felt too weak to reposition it herself. She sighed, and looked at the pillow next to her. It was all neatly patted smooth and the sheets were straight and folded down the side of the bed. Organized, meticulous and tidy, just like Annie. Ever since Meghan had gotten sick a whole two weeks before their finals, Annie had been really careful around her while she looked after her. Sometimes she would tease her and call her Nannie. Though Meghan suspected Annie didn¡¯t mind it that much. As she sluggishly sick-wiggled deeper into her pillow, she closed her eyes, touching the spot where Annie had kissed her, and smiled. It felt warm. She was probably imagining it, but she could feel the heat on her skin. And then she felt it on her lips.


    Meghan felt soft familiar lips press gently against her own, as the mild taste of sweet raspberry coated the tip of her tongue. She could feel Annie¡¯s arms wrap lovingly around her as she tried her best to embrace her back; the girl who was making her entire body pulse with heat. The girl who spent almost her entire life loving her. Eyes closed, Meghan finally was able to hold the woman she loved in her arms. Weakened by the fever, she still tried her best to return her embrace just as tightly.


    Finally Annie pulled away, lying carefully across Meghan¡¯s body. Meghan opened her eyes panting, looking at Annie smiling as she laughed sweetly. Annie looked into her eyes, brushing Meghan''s frizzy bed hair away from her face.


    ¡°Ann.¡± Meghan breathed.


    ¡°It was those puppy dog eyes." Said Annie, breathing gently. "How could I say no to them?" She said, looking away as she rested her head against Meghan''s chest.


    Meghan''s smile could win awards, she felt so happy she was practically beaming. She placed her hand on Annie''s head and gently brushed her silky black hair.


    "You put on the lip balm, didn¡¯t you? I tasted it, raspberry bloom.¡± Meghan asked, giggling.


    ¡°Yup, it¡¯s antibacterial.¡± Annie replied, matter-of-factly.


    ¡°But, you might still get sick.¡±


    ¡°Just give me this one.¡± Annie laughed softly, snuggling into Meghan.


    ¡°I love you so much!¡± Meghan cooed, squeezing her.


    ¡ª-

 Closure: Pilot Chapter

    Dave fumbled around for his keys, looking around his dimly lit living room. Someone was at the door.


    ********


    Ever since he and Suzie separated four months ago, he was trying to find his groove again. It wasn¡¯t some big fight, or someone cheated, or something dramatic like that. They just woke up one day, and looked at each other. He could still remember how it went.


    Suzie reached out her hand to touch Dave¡¯s face, and he sighed. She didn¡¯t look disappointed. They looked at each other and saw strangers living two completely different lives who happened to share a bed.


    ¡°Are you having fun?¡± She asked him.


    ¡°Are you?¡± He offered.


    ¡°No.¡±


    He paused for a moment, desperately looking for a reason to not say it, but found none.


    ¡°Me neither.¡± He replied


    ¡°Remember what we said?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s have fun together, forever.¡± Dave said, looking out the window, focusing on the tree outside. It had grown flowers over the spring.


    Suzie giggled. ¡°We did have a lot of fun. No one can deny that.¡±


    Dave smiled, trying not to look her in the eyes. She still had the eyes of a woman he fell madly in love with twelve years ago. The eyes that once gave him hope for life, that gave him unending joy whenever they¡¯d crinkle at the corners when she smiled. If he looked, he would lose his resolve, but he knew he would be lying to her, and to himself, if he said he had anything left. And he was certain neither did she. It was freeing, in a way, to finally figure out what was bothering him for so long.


    "We set fire to Stephan''s rug, remember?" she said, giggling to herself.


    "At his wedding" Dave laughed, snapping back to reality as he remembered that unholy night. "We were so drunk."


    "And Jimmy, he dropped his damn zippo onto that booze soaked rug."


    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    "It was like fifty percent fuel at that point, why was he doing lighter tricks on it?" Dave chortled. He was staring at the ceiling, a smile plastered to his face.


    "I loved that feeling." Suzie sighed.


    "But then we grew up, huh?" Dave said quietly.


    "And then we grew up." She repeated, nodding.


    "I hope you don''t think I blame you, or anything." Dave whispered.


    "I was hoping you didn''t."


    "I don''t, I love how much your work means to you, and I''d never want you to think I was resentful. I think we just grew apart, like those relationship gurus keep saying."


    "Do you watch relationship gurus?" Suzie laughed.


    "I have, in the past, yes." Dave said, smiling. "It''s nice to have a third party perspective."


    "I hope you find someone to have fun with forever, Dave"


    "I hope you find someone too." Dave said, reaching out to hug her.


    "Oh come here you."


    She hugged him back.


    "Oh god we have to get a divorce now." Dave said, laughing.


    She laughed as well, "Don''t worry, I know a good lawyer.


    "Don''t fuck me over." Dave joked.


    "I won''t. You''ve been very nice to me."


    "Thanks, you''ve been nice to me too." Dave said, feeling like a massive weight was lifted from his chest.


    The divorce proceedings went well enough, and as promised, no one fucked anyone over. They divvied up their belongings according to who wanted to keep what, and then essentially played rock paper scissors for the junk neither of them wanted.


    They''d still talk about stuff, every once in a while and sometimes he¡¯d go over to her apartment with toys for Mittens, but truly, they were happy to be apart. Until one night Dave opened his door to a disheveled Suzie in her coffee stained pajama top with its bottom stuffed into her coat pants. She was panting, and she looked scared.


    ***************


    ¡°Suzie? What happened? What are you doing here?¡±


    ¡°Dave! Are you okay?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m fine. What¡¯s going on? Get inside and tell me what¡¯s up? Is Mittens sick again?¡±


    Suzie slowly steps inside the house, shuts the door behind her and throws the bolt quietly. She turns to him and says quietly.


    ¡°Dave, I think there¡¯s someone trying to murder us.¡±