Querencia

I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN GOOD WITH MEMORIES

3:00 a.m.
March, 2023

We were lying sprawled on a patch of damp grass, jackets beneath us as makeshift blankets, the half-empty wine bottle lodged between our legs. The night had a stillness only Vienna could offer, with the quiet hum of the city faint in the distance.

The wine had loosened our conversations, made our laughter softer, and our silence more comfortable.

"I always thought that parks at night were supposed to be creepy," Nick mused, voice soft from the wine's warmth.

Nick's eyes were dark in the low light. The freckles along his face stood out like stars. He seemed more constellation than boy.

I chuckled, lazily pointing at the sky. "In Vienna? Only if you're sober."

We laughed quietly, passing the bottle between us. The air was crisp, carrying the bite of snowfall's approach, but I didn't mind. The wine kept us warm, and our heads felt light. The city felt far away, the night ours alone. Slowly, the world around me started to blur as my lids grew heavy.

Just as I was on the verge of falling asleep, a cold drop hit my forehead.

"What the—?"

Another drop. Then another.

We sat up in unison, staring at the sky. It wasn't rain. It was snow, light at first, spiralling down like a slow, unexpected dance.

"Snow? I thought it wasn't cold enough?" I asked, blinking in surprise.

The snow began falling lightly at first, melting as soon as it touched the ground, but it didn't stop. The flakes thickened, tumbling from the sky like ash.

Within moments, the snow became blinding, swirling around us in violent gusts. The peaceful park had transformed into a white blur.

"We need to find a shelter!" Nick shouted over the rising wind, grabbing my jacket. We scrambled to our feet, slipping slightly on the slackening ground, and took off running down the path, barely able to see two feet in front of us.

The storm whipped around us, but through the wall of the snow, we spotted a faint orange glow. As we got closer, we saw it— a small pub, its wooden sign swinging gently in the wind, the windows fogged up with the warmth and the chimney releasing smoke from the fireplace inside.

We rushed towards it, our breaths ragged as we threw the door open. The warmth hit us instantly, enveloping us in the smell of wood, smoke and beer. A few patrons sat at the bar, oblivious to the havoc inside.

The storm had come out of nowhere, sudden and fierce, leaving the streets deserted except for the occasional passing cars, headlights cutting through the misty air.

We saw a small round table that was near the fireplace that set alight the otherwise dim lit bar. The bartender moved softly behind the counter, wiping down glasses.

We exchanged a look of relief and exhaustion, slumping into the booth near the fire. A moment of silence passed before I broke into a grin.

"I guess Vienna's parks are creepier than we thought."

Nick grinned, shaking the snow from his hair. "Another bottle?" He asked, nodding towards the bar.

A server approached, a smile tucked into the corner of her lips as she set down two glasses of deep red wine, the liquid catching the firelight. "For the snow-bound," she said, a wink in her tone.

"Thankyou," I murmured, watching as the wine swirled in my glass, rich and dark. I took a sip, feeling the warmth spread through my body, chasing away the last of the cold. Outside, the wind howled louder, rattling the windowpane. I glanced at Nick, watching as he cupped his glass between his hands, eyes focused on the fire.