SPASE

BEFORE: CHAPTER FIVE

The wind jostles the few naked trees along Maddie's walk home. They feel the crunch of dried leaves beneath their shoes, as they look up. Another moment of their day in which they can just be. It is only them on the road outside city lines. There aren't any cars, just the sound of Maddie shuffling their feet along.

It's cold, almost frigid. Iowa doesn't give its residents' mercy this time of year. It's about to change from fall to mode when the harvest is put on hold. As everyone hunkers down in their community, it's as if they all go into hibernation and time slows.

Enjoying the walk, they start walking faster and get into a stride. Not expecting it, Maddie trips, drawing their body forward, but catching themselves.

"Holy fucking shit," Maddie yells.

"I thought you were a goner," a voice rings.

Turning quickly, Maddie notices her: Melissa.

Maddie stands still, frozen in disbelief.
"She doesn't live out here?" Maddie thought. "What the fuck is she doing?"

"Can I walk with you?" Melissa asks, placing her hands in her pockets. She sways back and forth. Maddie could tell that even with her hoodie, she's cold and trying to keep warm.

"Sure, I mean, I guess," Maddie answers. "Do you live around here?"

"Um, I live in Cascade, I mean, we all do. Your place is a little out of the 1.923-mile radius, isn't it?" Melissa jokes, walking closer to Maddie.

Not taking their eyes off of her, they notice she begins walking ahead of them.

"Um, yeah, well technically I can go to Cedar Hill..."

"It was a joke, Maddie," Melissa says as she stops and turns. "It's not a big deal where you live, you know. We can't all live in the radius. I was just yankin' your chain."

Not knowing what to say, they just stood there.

Melissa puts her arms out and looks at Maddie dead in the eye. "Are you coming or not?"

Maddie raises their eyebrows and walks beside Melissa.

"So how far is it?" Melissa says, gliding on top of the leaves with her arms out wide as if she's some sort of figure skater.

"It's about two miles, it's really..."

"Woah, like feels like two miles or is actually two miles?" Melissa says, shocked.

Maddie grinds their teeth. "Like actually two miles."

"Oooooo-kay," Melissa acknowledges. "Gives us more time."

With a chuckle, Maddie replies, "Time for what, to be cold?"

Melissa bends at the waist and lets out a boisterous laugh. "Well, you are snarky on the inside. I knew it."

"You know me, always full of snarks," Maddie smiled.

After a few minutes of walking together in silence, Melissa finally answers.

"Gives us time to talk. You know, just be."

Shocked at her choice of words, Maddie smiles.

"So, what do you want to know?"