Frozen freedom

Swing

I keep walking trying not to completely break down. The cold winter breeze brushes my face making my tears feel like ice. My breathing is heavy, the frozen air burning my lungs. The soft tap of my boots on wet cement makes me feel almost calm.
Tap, tap tap~
My boots continue to clack softly with each step, i listen carefully to each soft clack
Tap, tap~
Each step seems louder then the last
Tap ta-
I take a step, yet the tapping stops. I take another step
Silence
Another step
Silence
Another
Nothing

I look at the bottom of my shoes, nothing is stuck to the bottom. I start to get annoyed and stomp, but everything is still completely silent. I look around, it's as if everything is completely...Frozen.
"AHHHHHHH" i hear a young girl scream, wait
"JAS!!" I yell quickly looking around me.
I look over and see jas, laying face planted in the park wood chips. I run over and pick her up off the ground.
'Owwwwww!" her face is red and tears cover her face
"Its okay, it okay" i rub her shoulder and try my best to comfort her
I'm not that good with children let alone my niece. After my mom died my sister stopped talking to me. She always said i was selfish, so when i didn't take it the way she wanted me to then all the sudden i was the problem. I haven't talked to her for years and she didn't even tell me jas was born until she was already 5.

"Mr.Shane, look" jas points up to the swing set her voice sounding still sniffly.
I look up
The swing is frozen in the air, almost like someone pressed the pause button. My mouth gaps open, obviously there is some logical explanation to this
There was water in the chains and it frozen
But...jas was just swing on it
This doesn't make any sense
"I-its so c-cold' jas's voice shivers and her hands wrap around me
"Here" i pick up jas and wrap my coat around her "i should get you home"
"Mommy said i had to stay upside tell she came and got me" jas whimpers
"Well she didn't say uncle shane could drop you off right" i smile
Jas shoots me a confused look but she obviously looks comfortable with me walking her home
I set her down making sure my large coat stays over her shoulders and i grab her hand
As we start to walk I wonder if Jas even knows we're related. With how long my sister hasnt been talking to me i doubt she's ever even talked about me.
Each of my steps, completely silent
The air feels incredibly still, not even the lightest breeze
We walk down the streets of her neighborhood
All the whole street completely silent, if it wasn't for the light on in some of the houses i'd say this place was basically a ghost town
We turn the corner and keep walking
I barely remember where my sister lives, i just remember it's the only one on her block
I walk up to a light grey blue house, the white trim that looks beautiful with the warm granland lights and the colorful array of poppies planted in terrica pots.

I let go of Jas's hand and knock on the door
As soon as i do a snowflake floats down onto my nose
Jas giggles, "i think the snowflake chose you'
I laugh along with her "and why would it do that?'
"Cause you're special!" her smiles grows wider, showing off her missing front teeth
I turn back to the door and look quizzically at it
I knock again, each knock sending a boom through the house
Knock, knock, knock~

The house still remains silent
I decide its best to just come in then stand here in the cold with my niece
"Daisy, i'm coming in so if you're doing something bad...i guess do your best to hide it" i yell before creaking the door open
"SHANE!!" she screeches as i walk in
Beer bottles cover the coffee table, cigarettes burns burn into almost every wooden surface in the house
I stare on in shock
"Daisy, what is all this?" I grab onto Jas's hand again, slowly shuffling her behind me.
"Give me my daughter and GET THE HELL OUT!" her voice booms echoing through the barren house, Jas whimpers in fear.
"No" i simply state slowly backing up, "you need to get ur shit together before i do anything like that"
She grunts with anger, "M-Mr.Shane" Jas continues to whimper
"Go up to your room and pack a few things, don't come down tell i come and get you" i pat her back and she runs up the stairs to her room.
"Daisy what have gotta yourself into, this isnt you" i slowly approach her
"Shane, you wouldnt understand" she rubs her glossy eye
Her eyes began to water as i pull her into a tight embrace
"I really really think i do" a tear streams down my face