(This page is dedicated to the
stories of Snow in Waddington Willows written by Sherry Marshall)
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the links to each chapter:
Chapter 156 – ”Finale”
Snow was exhausted. She
wondered how a queen who sat on her bum all day would have the energy to climb
a mountain! Finally, she saw the witch and Edward resting.
Snow practically collapsed into a nearby patch of grass. Although Ed’s
movement up the mountain was involuntary, he was still weary from the
climb. He too wondered how Margurite could have
such energy. Where were they going anyway, thought Ed? He was
expecting for her to drag him to the mine and then through the portal to
“reign” with her as king…or at least that’s what she’d said. So why were
they going up this bloody mountain?
The mood of the search party was solemn. The journey would only last a
day….but they were concerned of the dangers ahead in dealing with an
‘out-of-control’ witch. Mike never spoke, but merely followed
Nigel’s lead as he tracked the party of three towards the mountains. The
very thought made Jennifer shiver as they drew closer. She suddenly had a
cold, ominous feeling. Why?
It was late afternoon when Margurite stopped.
They were high on the mountain, and the thinner air made it even harder for Ed
and Snow to breath amidst already being tired.
Snow was able to hide behind a nearly tree close enough to hear what was said
between Ed and the queen. She heard Margurite
rave on and on about the death of her daughter, Natalie. Snow shook her
head as the queen’s words desperately reached for a party to blame for her
daughter’s demise…any party other than herself, of course. In her
rampage, Margurite trailed off a few yards from Ed
almost as though she weren’t even addressing him any longer. Who was she
talking to…herself? Snow paid it no heed. She seized the
opportunity immediately. Quickly and quietly she approached the immobile
Edward as she put a finger to her lips signaling him to be quiet.
As she tried to see what had him frozen where he sat, she found nothing.
Just as she feared…it was a spell. Before she had time to think, Margurite turned and spotted them. The witch was
furious and flew into an angry rage. With her hand outstretched,
she thrust Snow across the clearing and hard into a tree with a magic bolt from
her hand. “Snow!” Mike and the search
party had just reached the summit of the clearing to witness the event.
Mike started toward Margurite despite the warnings of
the others. He too was met with the same fate of magic as his
wife. He stumbled, then rose to his
feet as he helped up Snow, “Are you alright my love?” Snow nodded, as she
nursed the now growing bump on her head. “You fools!
Now you will see what kind of magic I am FULLY capable of!” With a waving
of her arms, Margurite began chanting in a mystical
language. Suddenly, the sun was hidden and the sky grew darker.
Black clouds surrounded the mountains and the Willows village in the valley
below. “You will wish you’d never tangled with me! Your
precious village will be dust!” Fearing what was to happen, Mike grabbed
Snow up in his arms. She looked up at him with knowing sadness in her
eyes, “I love you my sweet Prince. Always know that.” Not
understanding her meaning, Mike looked to Jennifer for some kind of answer to Margurite’s behavior. Suddenly, he felt Snow pull
from him. He looked back quickly as he witnessed his beloved rush at the
queen with all of her might and thrust her off the edge of the mountain.
To his horror, Snow’s momentum took her over the edge as well. Mike
started quickly to the edge but was stopped by Nigel and Duncan. They
knew what he would do. Struggling with him, Nigel punched Mike three
times to get him to stop fighting them. Mike finally sank to the ground
in defeat, now bleeding from his lip. The clouds broke apart and quickly
dissipated. The sun was bright again and the air was now calm. Edward
looked at Mike, “She did it for us. Snow sacrificed herself to save the
village…to save us all!” Gently, Mai placed her hand on Mike’s
shoulder. Mike didn’t feel it. He felt nothing now…nothing except
emptiness.
The witch s eyes were cold with evil as she glared at Mike. He couldn t possibly fathom the thoughts of such an evil
being. It all happened so quickly that
day the grey clouds were building over the village under her spell. The group could see them clearly from the
mountain top. She
s going to destroy the village! Edward
s panicked words still rang in Mike s ears however not as badly as the next
sound to deafen his happiness. Before
his very eyes, and before he could stop her--Snow rushed at the witch, sending
them both tumbling over the edge. Mike
remembered it like it was yesterday the last time he saw his beloved
Princess. He remembered being restrained
by the men while he tried to go after Snow.
He remembered the fireball and explosion that occurred just after the
fall. No one could explain it. There were no bodies, no remains
nothing. Thomas stood watching Mike as
he did so often as his friend would come here to mourn
his loss.
“ She did it for the whole
village, you know Mike. She saved it
from that witch s spell. “
Mike nodded but said nothing. He
could feel the sting of his tears trying to return.
Thomas never wanted Mike to be
alone when he came here, but he knew he should have a moment, “You want a minute, mate?”
At Mike s nod, Thomas returned to the checkpoint where Travis was waiting
for them.
“ He alright? “
Thomas brow showed his concern for
his friend, “I hope he will be. “
“I don t get it Tom. He goes along all day every day, putting on a
happy face like nothing is wrong. He
cooks up a storm, smiles the
Mike smile he is always
his cheery self. Then he comes here and
relives the whole thing and he’s miserable.
Then he goes back to the village and seems all happy again. “
Thomas shook his head,
“That s just it, Trav he just ‘
seems’ happy. He isn t, believe
me. He s just a good
actor, like wearing a mask. You
know Mike’s personality he isn’t the type to make everyone miserable and feel
sorry for him, you know? Mike s a giver.
“ Thomas looked
back up the mountain in the direction he left Mike, “I really admire him for it too. Takes a lot to be able to
do that. “
“Then you re right”, Travis began as he remembered his own
experience of watching someone he cared about die, “he s a damn good actor.”
Mike shuddered as he felt Killion s gentle hand
on his shoulder, “You bout ready?”
Mike nodded.
“You know,”
Mike cut him off,
“No, Thomas. I already
said NO grave! There was no body there
won t be a grave either. “
Thomas started softly,
“You think she s still alive, don t you? Mike, you can t keep trusting in this false
hope. It's been nine months. You have to let her go.”
Mike whirled around on his heel, “There was no body, Killion! Doesn t that
tell you something?”
“Yes, it tells me just what it
told Tom that she 'spontaneously combusted' along with the witch. All they found was a charred spot on the
ground and blood on the mountainside no remains nothing. It s the only explanation.”
“It s NOT the only explanation!”
“He s a
detective, Mike! He knows these things!”
Mike s tears began full force, “Yeah?
Well, he doesn t know the Willows! No one knows this God forsaken place! It s full of witchcraft and evil and it was
surely no place for such an angelic creature like my Snow!”
Thomas was quiet as Mike turned away and took a few steps.
“ Look, Mike I m sorry. I didn t mean to go
off like that. I was out of line.”
Mike shook his head as he wiped his tears in frustration, “Let s just get
back. I got work to do.”
As Thomas watched Mike hurry down the mountain, he muttered under his
breath, “And
masks to wear …”
Snow in WW: Chapter 158 – “Ghost of Christmas Past”
“It’s Christmas Eve Maxwell.” Mike said as he patted his faithful wolf pet on the head. Maxwell made a sad whining sound as he looked up at his master’s sad face.
“I know buddy…I miss her too.”
Mike was dreading the whole affair…dreading putting on his “happy face” and going to the hut to cook Christmas dinner…watching them trim the tree that Snow so loved to help decorate…watching alone as the couples kissed under the mistletoe. He couldn’t help but smile to himself as he remembered how much trouble Snow would go to reaching for that one clump of mistletoe…the one with the white berries.
“You have to have the berries Mike! It makes the kiss ‘fruitful’.“
He could still hear her sweet and innocent voice. ‘Oh God,’ he thought. How could he bear Christmas Eve without hearing her beautiful rendition of ‘O Holy Night’ or even leading everyone in ‘Jingle Bells’? There would be no Christmas skit by she and Stevie that they always took great pride in putting together…no musical concert. It would never be the same again…never. He closed his eyes as he mentally prepared for the day ahead. What a nightmare this day would be.
Mike kept much to himself in the kitchen most the day claiming the “cookies had to be watched very closely, lest they burn”. Kahlua decorated the tree with the help of two little ‘elves’.
“Twee?”
“Oi! That’s right Anna! It’s a Christmas tree!” Stevie grinned at the toddler as he fixed the broken ornaments before they were hung on the tree by the mother of the ‘elves’.
Yvonne hung the garland cursing under her breath as the needles poked her in the arm, “Ouch! Dammit.” She looked around to be sure the young children didn’t hear her.
Dinger was hanging the mistletoe over the doorframe.
“Nah…needs to be a little to the left I think,” taunted Travis.
Dinger was quick with his retort, “What’s it to ya? Who you gonna be kissin’ under this bloody parasite? An’ ya better watch what how ya answer that one, mate!”
It was just like last year…in many ways. But not in the ways that mattered to Mike. He wanted no part of the decorating. He was keeping busy with the dinner and pastries for that evening.
“Damn. Out of shortening.” Frustrated and already in a gloomy mood, Mike slammed down his oven mitt and headed to the pantry closet.
“ I hope there’s one more.” He rummaged through the jars and bags.
“Paydirt! Thank God!” As he pulled the can off the shelf, something wasn’t right…it rattled. “”What the?”
Pulling the lid off the can, he almost gasped. He lost his footing and sat straight on the floor. He didn’t care. He was already sobbing. The whole day was enough to bear…but this! There in the can were the leftover colored coffee beans he’d used to make Snow’s bracelet so long ago…a lifetime ago. Her lifetime.
“Oh God! My Princess!”
Mai had been helping Cliona and Nigel get the old sleigh put back in order from last year, “I can’t believe this thing isn’t rusted clean through.” Mai winced slightly as she sliced her hand on one of the fasteners.
Cliona smiled at Nigel, “I’ve never been on a “sleigh ride”. I’ll bet they are lovely.”
Nigel returned her smile, “…And romantic. Good thing there’s only room in here for two. I’m not sharing!” He reached out to grab Cliona but stopped as he saw the horror on her face.
Cliona gasped as she saw the blood oozing from Mai’s hand, “Mai! You’re hurt.”
Mai looked back down at her hand, not even realizing she was bleeding, “Oh…yeah. It’s just a scratch…nothing to get upset over.” She frowned in annoyance more at the inconvenience of it than anything.
Nigel gently grasped her arm, taking it away from the work she was still attempting to accomplish, “Mai, you need to get that dressed. You don’t want it to get infected.”
She sighed…again more at the inconvenience, “Alright…whatever.”
Just to humor the couple…or Nigel mainly, who she was convinced just wanted the time alone with Cliona, she trudged up to the hut’s kitchen. As she rinsed her wound, she scanned the room for a bandage or clean rag of some sort, when she spotted Mike on the floor of the pantry…he was shaking. His face was buried in his arms resting on a shortening can. “Mike?”
He didn’t respond. She shut the water off and disregarding her injury she approached him, “Mike?”
Still shaking, he looked up at her slowly…blankly.
“Mike, what is it? What’s wrong?” She crouched down beside him. His eyes were…she couldn’t quite read them…they were…different.
“Mai. Gosh, I’m sorry. I must have slipped. I didn’t mean to worry you.”
As he rose, Mai was not satisfied, “Mike what is it? You’re shaking?”
“Am I? I guess I’m just a little tired…didn’t get much sleep last night.”
Mai looked around the kitchen at how hard he had been working…pastries galore, turkey stuffed and in the oven, sweet potatoes drowning in brown sugar, cranberries crushed into sauce, peas and carrots shelled and peeled and buttered, cookies on sheets ready to go in the oven, three pies also ready for baking…Mai couldn’t help but be amazed at this guy’s stamina! “Mike, look…you’ve worked your arse off in here today already. Take a break…at LEAST! You deserve it!” Brushing off a cheesy old McDonald’s jingle from her head, Mai looked seriously at Mike…hands on hips.
He grinned, “You’re not gonna let me off on this one are you?”
A little taken aback at his sudden mood change, Mai returned the grin, “No! Now get your arse outta here! “
Mike took off his apron, gave a slight bow to Mai and walked into the living room. Mai couldn’t help but think to herself how much better his ‘mask’ is today. He seemed unusually carefree all the sudden. Under the circumstances, Mai thought, this was not necessarily a good thing.
“Kahlua…Stevie, the tree
looks wonderful!”
“Oi! Thanks Mike!” Stevie perked. “An’ I gotta tell ya…our mouths ‘ave been really watrin’ over whatcher cookin’ in there!”
Mike chuckled as he patted Stevie on the arm, “It’ll be ready shortly. But I’m looking forward to the skit myself.”
Stevie frowned as he looked away from the ornament he was working on, “Skit, Mike?”
“Yeah! You know…you and Snow always put on the most wonderfully entertaining skits for Christmas.”
Silence fell over the hut. Kahlua almost dropped the ornament she was hanging.
Yvonne turned to look at him.
Dinger sighed as he climbed down from the ladder.
Travis looked at Thomas, who discreetly waved him to silence.
Stevie’s jaw dropped.
Mike again chucked, “Aw, you can’t fool me! I’m looking forward to being surprised by you two!”
With that, he patted Stevie on the back and headed back into the kitchen. Stevie quickly looked to Kahlua who shrugged…then to Dinger who said nothing.
Mai followed Mike to see some kind of…well, anything that would lead her to believe this was some kind of joke…a very sick joke at that. Nothing. Her entrance back into the kitchen only led to more confusion.
Mike turned to see her and grinned a guilty smile, “I know what you’re thinking.”
Mai couldn’t help but think, “Good, because you got some damn spectacular explaining to do!’ Her expectations were however less than met.
“I know you told me to take a break…but I have to finish this dinner now. I want to be able to relax tonight, Mai. I want to be able to enjoy the skit…and most especially my Princess’ singing. I know she will do ‘O Holy night’…it’s her favorite…and mine too, to be honest.”
Mai frowned in disbelief. She moved around to the counter to where Mike could see her and said in a definite tone, “Mike…Snow won’t be singing tonight.”
Mike looked at her thoughtfully…then frowned in almost horror. Mai sighed…now he’s back.
“Oh good Lord! You two have gotten to be friends lately…I feel like such a bad husband! I have been so busy with ‘kitchen duties’ that I don’t even know what is going on with my own wife! She had the sniffles the other day…poor baby. Is she sick? Did she tell you she wouldn’t be able to sing tonight? Now I feel awful that I didn’t even know that!”
Mai’s jaw dropped. ‘Oh my God…he’s flipped!’ she thought. What could she do? Was this an act? Taking a deep breath, she gave it one more shot, “Mike, do you know where Snow is? When was the last time you talked to her?”
Mike looked at her very calm, “Why yes…she is in the orchard picking the last apples before the final hard freeze. Hope ya like apple pie! It will be the big treat for New Year’s next week!”
Flabbergasted, Mai backed away slowly, “Right…well I gotta go finish the sleigh. I’ll see ya!”
As she hurried out the back wondering what she could do to 'fix' this, she heard Mike’s cheery call, “Oh good! Snow’s been waiting to ride in that sleigh again this year!”
Snow in WW: Chapter 159 – “It’s not the answer…”
Christmas morning found all…well most…in high spirits. Included in the ‘spirited’ was Mike. He was at the hut bright and early fixing Christmas morning pastries for breakfast. Thomas was the next to arrive…and for good reason. He was very worried about his friend’s behavior lately. Mike’s strange disillusion that Snow was still alive and well and living in the Willows, was a lie and not healthy. Naturally finding the cheerful cook in the kitchen, he hesitated, but he knew he couldn’t put off the inevitable.
“Good morning Thomas! Merry Christmas!”
“Merry Christmas, Mike. You’re up early. Smells good too.”
“Thank you. You know I can’t let the folks down on Christmas!”
Thomas swallowed as he searched for the right words, “You…um…sleep OK?”
“Like a rock. And yourself?”
“Good, good.” The unnatural conversation that apparently went unnoticed by Mike was bothering Thomas terribly. Why was this so hard? “Mike, I wanted to talk to you.”
“Sure thing Thomas. What’s up?”
Just then the door bust open with a smiling and hungry looking Stevie, “Oi! Mike…and Thomas! Merry Christmas!”
“Merry Christmas!” came Mike’s chipper retort, where Thomas had to force a smile and happy reply, amidst being annoyed at the interruption. Obviously, their talk would have to wait until later.
Gifts were practically flying around the room. Thomas had carved a new chess set for the men so that they could have more than one game going on at once if they wished. Yvonne had crocheted little sweaters for the twins. And for Hayden, Kahlua quilted a lovely blanket. When the last gift was opened, there was still one left under the tree.
“Oi! Who’s that one for?”
Stevie stretched as he tried to reach it, but Mike gently tugged on his arm, “It’s OK Stevie. She’ll open it later.”
“She?” Thomas said with dread in his voice.
Mike looked at him puzzled, as if the answer was plain as day, “Snow. She’ll open it later. It’s a surprise for her.”
Like deja vu from the evening before, the all too familiar hush fell over the hut. It was up to Mike to break it, “Well, I better get lunch going.”
He’d barely gotten through the door when the discussion started…as stern as a discussion could be whilst still keeping their voices down so Mike wouldn’t hear. Choosing not to voice her opinion at the present time, Mai watched in silence as Thomas tried to defend his friend, “Look, I plan on talking to him. I really had hoped it would wait till after Christmas.”
Dinger frowned, “Given the nature of the situation Thomas,” as he looked toward the lone present under the tree, “I think the sooner the better.”
Thomas nodded sadly. “I’ll do it later…after lunch.”
The air was fresh…and cold as she trudged through the snow. ‘Good thing I have a thick coat, ‘ she thought as she wrapped it tighter around her. She wondered why…why was she here? What brought her back to this place? She had to uncover the mystery and foreboding she felt here….she felt it even now as she walked along the path. She sensed it…something wasn’t right. What had happened here in the Willows? She wasn’t even positive about how long she had been gone. The breeze whipped through her dark hair and she shivered. But even as cold as it was, she couldn’t help but be nervous at seeing him again. What would she say to him? Would he even care that she was back? He may have forgotten all about her by now. She knew that wasn’t the case…she knew the kind of man he was. But she wanted to be prepared for anything. Would he be upset that she’d stayed away so long? And what was worse…how upset would he be to discover she wouldn’t be staying?
Thomas watched Mike’s jovial mood throughout the evening whilst avoiding Dinger’s glare. Afraid Dinger may talk to Mike himself, Thomas prepared to pull Mike to the kitchen for a ‘chat’. However, at that very given moment, Mike engaged himself in the topic of conversation. Should Thomas be rude and pull him away?
“It’s really sad,” began Travis, “They say the highest rate of suicide is right now…during the holidays.”
Raif winced at the subject, brushing away a haunting memory.
Cliona frowned, “Why? It’s supposed to be a happy time.”
Kahlua shook her head as she offered, “That’s just it…” she spoke now as the journalist she was. “People are miserable instead of being happy due to lack of family or lost loved ones, perhaps. So suicide is their way out. But it isn’t the answer.”
Mike also shook his head, “No, it isn’t. How bad do things have to be to make someone take their own life?”
That strange hush fell over the hut again and Thomas felt a sort of invisible ‘nudge’ to pull Mike away. “Hey Mike. Can I talk to you in the kitchen for a minute?”
“Sure.”
Mai watched the two men retreat into the kitchen as she frowned and muttered under her breath “Great going Thomas! We were just discussing suicide and you decide to pick THAT moment to remind Mike that his wife is dead? Nice job!”
The two had grown close when Mike’s sister-in-law was ‘seeing’ Thomas. Many a conversation the two men had about Snow and Lily. This was one conversation, however, that Thomas was not looking forward to having.
He watched Mike start the preparations for lunch and took a deep breath. Christmas or not, Mike needed to hear the truth.
“You know, when I lost Elizabeth and ended up here, it was very hard for me…I thought I would die of a broken heart.”
Mike stopped to look at Thomas. He was sympathetic to his friend who must be missing his beloved during the holiday season. He smiled lightly, “I understand, mate. I know I would too, if I lost Snow.”
Thomas sighed and looked to the luncheon meat Mike was laying out on platters, ‘This isn’t going well,’ he thought.
“What I’m trying to say here Mike is that everyone expresses grief differently. Some people choose to hide from it…pretend it isn’t there. That’s what I’m seeing in you Mike.”
“What are you on about Thomas?”
“Well, it’s…YOU Mike. I wished I didn’t have to be the one to discuss this with you, but in a way, maybe it’s better. I was there Mike. I saw how happy you and Snow were. I wanted the same thing with Lily. But it’s not going to happen now, Mike. Not me and Lily….and not you and Snow. You need to face that.”
“What the hell are you talking about Thomas? Snow and I are very happy.”
“That’s just it…you aren’t! Snow is GONE Mike! She’s been gone since last April. She was killed, Mike!”
Mike removed his apron and slammed it on the counter, “Thomas, are you MAD?”
“No Mike! YOU are! Don’t you see? These last few days, you’ve somehow regressed back into thinking Snow is here…she isn’t.”
“That’s a lie! She’s on her way up here now. I’m looking forward to seeing her open the surprise I made for her. I made her a new crown of dried flowers to go with her wedding gown…the one she’s going to wear New Year’s Day when we renew our vows!”
“Oh God, Mike! Don’t you see? She’s not here…she not going to BE here! She’s gone Mike!” Thomas grasped Mike’s forearms, “C’mon man, come back to us here. You can’t live in this dream world anymore…it’s not real”
Mike protested, “Shut up!”
“We all miss her, but this isn’t how to deal with it. Please Mike…”
“Shut up! Shut up…you’re lying!” He tried to pull away...Thomas wouldn’t let go
“I’m not lying. Think about it man. Last year…the cliff, Margurite…Snow fell…she took the witch off the cliff. I know you remember, man. C’mon!”
“No! No, it isn’t true! She’s going to be here…” Mike collapsed to the floor as he began sobbing. “She’s going to be here for Christmas!”
Thomas crouched down beside him and said softly, “No, Mike…she’s not.” He knew he was getting through. It was perhaps the hardest thing he ever had to do…but he was getting through.
Horror struck at Mike like a burning knife…suddenly he knew Thomas was right. “Oh God Thomas! How can I do this? How can I go on without her, my Princess…my life?”
Thomas never cared about appearances…it wasn’t very manly, but it didn’t matter now. He embraced his friend…his brother, “We WILL go on, Mike…both of us.”
The melody of Bart’s mandolin filled the hut with the sounds of ‘Auld Lang Sine’ as everyone rang in the New Year. Bouncing one toddler on her knee and the other cuddled up close whilst quickly approaching dreamland, Kahlua sang the song softly to the toddlers. Duncan smiled at her as he played along on his wooden flute. Stevie was quite proficient on the clay ocarina he’d made with Lily. Though the sounds were pretty, playing it was bittersweet without her there…or her sister. As Mike had hidden himself away in the kitchen presumably to ‘prepare the New Year’s desserts’, folks knew otherwise. Among them was Mai. It had been a week since Christmas, and so far Mike was living with the reality of his wife’s demise. But how was he really doing? Tomorrow would have been he and Snow’s 2nd anniversary and he had not even mentioned it…to anyone. When Mai tried to come to the kitchen to talk with him about it all, he shooed her away ‘lest the New Year’s cake fall from the noise’ was his excuse. ‘Sod the bloody cake!’ was Mai’s thought on it, but she respected Mike’s wishes and left him alone. The music was finally too much for Mike…he couldn’t stand it any longer. He had to get away from it…get away from the memories it brought.
“To hell with the desserts.” He then grabbed his coat and slipped out the back door of the kitchen unnoticed.
This was where it all began…all of the grief…all of the pain Mike had suffered. Once again he was drawn to the mountain…almost like an understood grave, although he refused to admit that. It was too cold and lonely of a tomb for Snow…his Princess.
He sat down in the snow overlooking the canyon where she fell so many months ago, “Are you lonely, my love…as lonely as I am? Can you hear me? I wonder if you can. I wonder if you can see me here crying just about every other day. You must think I’m a fool.” Shaking the thought, he changed his mind, “No…no you would never think that. Would you my sweet?” The memories flooded his thoughts. With each passing memory, his tears flowed more and more. He remembered when they were courting and she finally chose him over Edward. He remembered how much she loved Christmas and singing carols and taking sleigh rides and kissing beneath the mistletoe. He remembered their wedding day…New Year’s Day. ‘Oh God, that was tomorrow!’ he thought…in fact it was probably close to midnight now. He could still see her in her white wedding gown amongst the sea of red poinsettias the ladies had arranged in the forest clearing. She was so beautiful. She looked at him with her large blue eyes…so full of love. Never had he seen such beauty or love. Gone…just like that. “I can’t do this!” He sobbed as he stood to his feet. “I can’t live through this torture day after day. You were too good…too pure to ever forget. How can I?”
The words from Christmas Eve rang in his ears…
“It’s really sad. They say the highest rate of suicide is right now…during the holidays.”
“Why? It’s supposed to be a happy time.”
“That’s just it…people are miserable instead of being happy due to lack of family or lost loved ones, perhaps. So suicide is their way out. But it isn’t the answer.”
“No, it isn’t. How bad do things have to be to make someone take their own life?”
‘How bad?’ thought Mike. How could it be any worse? He couldn’t imagine living another day…another moment this way…without her. Soon it would be New Year’s…their 2nd anniversary. Where else would he rather be…than with her.
He peered over the edge into the dark canyon below. “With her…” he whispered. Almost involuntarily, his foot stepped toward the edge. The rocks were loose and he felt himself slip forward to only be yanked back by an outside force. He fell backwards and hit the ground. The ‘force’ he’d felt now held him in his arms. He looked up and gasped…his breath taken by what he saw. With eyes a mixture of wonder and surprise and hope, he reached up and touched her cheek, “Snow…”