A Shattered Glass, My Life Without Her

A Walk in Da Park

Long awaited...but I finally got this chapter posted. Enjoy.

'Faster Kat! Faster!' Iev shouts into the air. Her laughter is contagious as we both, hand in hand, dart our way across the ice. Luckily it's not so busy today, here at our old pond, but we're not kids anymore and having Iev pull me around is starting to feel more worrisome than fun.

'Slow down, babygirl!' I call out as my little sister tugs me forward. Knowing she wouldn't let go of my hand puts me a little bit at ease; my being bigger than her, I make for a good ballast. If she were on her own though, I am pretty sure she'd careen into the shoreline at the speed she prefers to skate.

After what felt like two hundred laps, Iev finally tires out and we both step off the ice. I pull the skates off my feet while Iev peels off her sweaty jacket. 'No more stalling hot stuff,' I warn her. 'Now that we're on solid ground, I want to hear all about your amazing morning with Dom...oh, and you're going to shower when we get home, because you stink!'

'Kat, ice is pretty solid too.' Iev snarks before flinching as her nose tucks into her shirt collar.

'Don't smarty-pants me,' I say, giving her a playful laugh.

Iev reaches down to pull her damp socks off her feet. 'I don't like the bits...They always get stuck to my toes.' She complains, her toes poking at the slush puddle sliding off our skates.

'And you were saying?' I urge her once again. She gives me a shy look before returning her eyes to the ground. She watches as her feet swing freely back and forth, the classic Iev stall tactic she employs when she's contemplating.

'It was a wonderful surprise tuh see her theah...at Berczy Park. And the sun was out, smiling on us.' She grinned at the happy memory. 'Strolling through town brought back an unexpected flood of memories. But it was nice to show Dom some of my favorite places.'

'That's where the expansion vents are released every so often.' I pointed at the ominous structure with the tunnel-sized louvre covering the front. Dom looked at it, squinting to see if something might happen. Her curiosity fading to concern.

'You...Iev, you used to stay there?' She pointed to the steel platform under the vent.

'Oh no! No!' I quickly shook my head, 'That spot's like the city's arm pit right theah. You don't wanna be under that vent at all!' I scrunched my nose and faked a gag at the thought of choking on the rancid odors spewing from the grille. Dom laughed but still seemed in disbelief.

I took her hand and lead us over to where the fence was broken, guiding us through it and to the ramp on the other side. I took my jacket off and stood with my back against the industrial concrete structure, gesturing to Dom to join me.

'Even if the wind is coming off the lake, you can stay upwind and catch the heat radiating off the walls.' I placed her cold hand against the rough surface.

She turned to look at me, 'But, I thought you don't get cold.' She reminded me while hesitating to remove her coat. I smiled at her innocent statement. There was definitely a time long ago when I shivered enough for a lifetime or two, of coldness. But I didn't think she wanted to know about that.

'Heah. You can wear your coat backwards.' I held her coat as she trusted me to slip it off and place it over her front. I stood facing her as she hunched from the sudden chill. She wrapped her arms around herself, but continued leaning against the solid wall anyway.

She watched me while patiently wondering what she should be experiencing. I couldn't help but return the stare, her eyes sparkled blue-green against the clear sky. I very much wanted to lean in and kiss her, but I worried she was in too vulnerable a spot. A few minutes later, her curiosity was quenched and a look of wonderment appeared, her shoulders instantly relaxing a bit.