The Quality of Sound

Chapter 1

It all started on a cold winter's day. Yes, I was reborn by snow. Although, it was not my choice.
I hate winter. Hate seems like a strong word, but it's true. I despise winter.
Some people think snow is so much fun. You can play in it, make things with it, but all I see is thick snow stuck in your boots and your fingers feeling like you've only got nine instead of ten.
The bitter cold was terrible. The wind seemed to laugh at you as it breezed through your scarves and skin making you feel like an icicle. Everyone figured it was Jack Frost nipping at your nose. I thought of it as death nipping at your life instead.
I always wondered if winter was getting revenge on summer. Summer was warm and full of life, while winter only caused hard ache and grief. It reminded me of myself.
On that cold day, it seemed to snow harder and the wind seemed to laugh at my sister, Raven, and me as we walked to school, trudging knee deep in the snow. I had prayed the previous night that school would be canceled due to the worst winter the towns ever seen. My pray did not come.
We kept walking, Raven's dark black hair blowing in the wind as coldness seemed to blow against us. My auburn hair was tucked inside my coat, so my hair would not be cold when I would take off my coat for school.
We were laughing about how Jacob's long underwear was too tight for him in his thin snow pants when I heard a ringing in my ears. I stop walking freezing in the snow, and on the road. Raven stops as well looking from me to my eyes. I looked back at hers. Her eyes were a beautiful bright green. Mine were a warm chocolate brown.
"Hey," She says looking at me with furrowed eyebrows as if I looked different. "Come on. We're going to be late for school."
I continue to stare at her then I look up slightly at the sky, its colors a mix of blue and grey from a snow storm the radio had predicted. The ringing steadily grew louder.
"Hello..." Raven presses waving a hand in front of my face to grab my attention. I shake my head as if I were in a trance and look back at Raven. Her eyes were full of confusion and curiosity. I simply shrug to her telling her I wasn't hurt and continue down the street.
"Um, excuse me. Wait!" She trudges through the snow surprisingly quick catching up to me seconds later.
"What was that all about?" Raven asks wobbling a little as her foot sank deep into the snow trying to pull it out.
"Nothing." I say simply shrugging again to obtain the fact I was fine.
"No, that was not 'nothing'. Why did you stop?"
"I said it was nothing give it a break." I roll my eyes and continue down the side of the road. I suddenly stop hearing only my feet continue to walk. I turn and see Raven standing where she was, a fixed expression on her face, quickly turned to an angry one, her arms crossed like a worried mother.
"Oh yeah, 'stopping in the middle of the road and looking like you were in some kind of trance' is totally normal I see." Sarcasm lingered on her every word.
"Raven, why wouldn't you listen to me? I feel fine, I still have all ten fingers, my heart, brain, and lungs seem to still be in good condition, nothing wrong with me it seems, come on. We're going to be late to school as it is."
I turn back around and yet again start toward the school. After a few seconds, I hear Raven's snow boots rustling behind me, but my expression stays neutral. The ringing sound was gone.