Hearts Desire [Sam Kiszka]

1.

Josh saying the storm didn't start till tomorrow had to have been a lie, because I could barely see the road. Thankfully, I was already pulling into the driveway. The cabin they rented didn't look very big on the outside, so I can only assume adding a fifth person would make it quite cramped.

I honked the horn twice as I grabbed my bag and got out, hoping they'd hear it and unlock the door. Making my way to the entrance, I tried to be careful. Ice was covering the ground and before I could react, I slipped on the frozen concrete. In an attempt to overcorrect my fall, I rolled over my ankle and landed on my knees and palms.

The front door swung open, and Josh rushed over to me, "Goldie, you okay?" He helped me up to my feet, grabbing the backpack off my shoulder. Once I put pressure on my left ankle, I knew I had twisted it. I winced and retracted my foot off the ground, hobbling inside.

"Sit!" Josh commanded, and I settled onto the recliner by the front door.

Jake came from the kitchen, "What'd you do now?!" He half-laughed. I was always knocking something over, falling, or breaking something on accident.

"Slipped on the concrete. Twisted my ankle too, so that's lovely." Sarcasm laced through my words.

I slipped off my shoes and propped my ankle up.

Samuel and Danny then entered from a bedroom connecting to the living room.

"Again?" Samuel raised his brows at me rubbing my now-swelling ankle. "Marigold, how many times can you fall in one year?"

"Nice to see you too, Samuel." I fake smiled.

"It's Sam."

"It's Goldie." He gave up and didn't respond.

In the silence, all of us looked at the television screen in the living room, which was on the local weather channel.

"—Going to get around 10 inches of snow, with up to 50 mile per hour winds—"

Before the weatherman can finish, Sam interjects.

"Who drives during a snow storm?"

I sigh, "Your brother said it wasn't supposed to storm until tomorrow." I look up at Josh, who has an apologetic look on his face, while mouthing an 'I'm sorry'.

Danny, who I didn't even realize had left, appeared next to me holding a plush blanket. "Here y'go."

"Thank you, Danny." I smile at him, grabbing the blanket and wrapping it around myself to warm up from the outside. I catch Samuel looking at me, before exiting and going back to the room he came out of.

Danny left towards the opposite side of the cabin, while Josh and Jake sat on the sofa next to me.

"Do you need any Advil?" Josh questions.

"No, I'm good. Could I just get a refill?" I grabbed my water bottle from the side of my backpack.

Jake stands up, taking my water bottle and heading towards the kitchen to refill it.

The weatherman continued in the silence, "—Unsafe to travel for the next couple of days—"

"Looks like we'll all be stuck here for awhile." I laugh.

"Good thing we stocked up. How was the drive? Not too bad I hope?"

"Josh, I could barely see the road! I'm surprised I made it here in one piece."

"Well, regardless. I'm glad you did come. It'll be nice having you here." He smiles.

How could I be mad at him? He's too sweet.