Ten Seconds or More

Winter

-3 degrees outside. Ice paved the roads and snow covered the bushes. The wind screamed at anything daring to move, taking the breath away from anything that needed to breathe. It was dark out, so having no sun made it colder. Our -3 felt more like -100. I blew on my hands, watching from the inside as people attempted to rush out to their cars in the racing storm. Why people decided to come outside, having a warning days ago, I had no idea. I was out because I had work. What was their excuse? Did they have work? Did they need food for the shelter they called home? Did they need antifreeze for their cars so they didn't wake up to a frozen car, broken engine block? What raced through their mind as they decided, "Yeah, this objective is worth withstanding this cold"?

The hoodie I wore did nothing against the biting blasts that came anytime someone opened our front door. I couldn't help but glare at our customers back for unintentionally causing such a searing pain from the frozen feeling I had to endure. Though I knew it was not their fault, so my normal customer service self was still very nice. Our small gas station was lined in red and white, a big 'Circle S' anywhere you looked. The coffee machines held freshly brewed strong coffee, cappuccinos and hot chocolate at the ready. I tucked my hands under my armpits, hoping it might keep them warm while I waited for one of two things: a customer, or my coworker so I could leave. 

Thankfully, the latter came first. 

Trevor came walking through the door, his winter coat and computer bag held tightly against him. He sent me a short nod and I gave him a tight lipped smile. Trevor was never the type of person anyone talked to. He was friendly, he did talk to us, we all got along, but we couldn't say we knew anything about him. We could tell you he's a closet Dungeons and Dragons nerd who goes to conventions any time there even remotely close. He works for the purpose of having money to fund his convention and comic con trips, he pays no bills. But none of us have his number. None of us know where he lives. None of us know anything else about him. The only reason we know what we do, is because we cover his shifts for those reasons.

"Ready for me?" Trevor asked me as he came up to the register. The tight space became even smaller with two people behind it, hardly having space to step. I nodded.

"Yep, all yours." I stepped out of the way and grabbed my bag. "Need anything before I head out? Trash, cups, anything?" 

Trevor shook his head and I held up my thumb in response. That was the communication we got from him. He never asked us to do anything extra. Which was fine with me, though it was my job to help if he needed it. I clocked out anyway and walked out the door, wishing Trevor goodnight and shivering as the cold became a thousand times worse than it was inside. I hugged myself as I walked to my car, swearing to myself for not bringing my bigger coat. I threw my bag in the backseat and got in.

My car started with a low rumble, cold and slow as it tried to warm up. The heat kicked on and I sat there for a minute, waiting for my window to defrost so I could see. TikTok kept me company for the ten minutes I let my car heat up to be on the safe side. My phone became my passenger seat rider and I began my journey home. The black ice was slick in the dark, my headlights not catching all the patches. I did what I could to drive slow, drive safe. But this is what happens in the middle of winter.