Love Thaws: Melting

Dying Embers

Her pace quickened and her legs burned as she steadily waded through the snow. After a few moments, the highway came into view. Elsa chewed her lip indecisively. Should she risk hitching a ride with someone? After all, she had no idea where the nearest hospital was. Elsa approached the highway tentatively and mustered her courage. She waved as a car zipped past her. They didn't even slow. A van sputtered past her, the burly driver didn't even spare her a glance. Elsa felt frustration swell within her. She waved frantically at a blue minivan. To her relief and surprise, it slowed, coming to a stop in front of her. The window slid down, revealing a man and a woman.

The man leaned towards the window. "Can I help you?"

Elsa frantically bobbed her head. Her lips parted as she prepared to say something. Apprehensiveness lurked in the corners of her mind, doubts plaguing her. Elsa squared her shoulders. She'd made it this far. "Yes, I need a ride."

She heard the doors click twice. The man nodded towards the back. "Hop in."

Elsa yanked on the handle and the door slid to the left. She plopped herself down in a seat and slammed the door shut.

"So, do you need to go to town?" he asked, his black-brown eyes assessing her.

"To the nearest hospital," she clarified.

There was a soft whisper of fabric against fabric as both of them turned in their seat to stare at her.

"I have a friend—husband," she quickly amended. The woman's eyes widened. Elsa cleared her throat and quickly continued, "He has an injured leg. I left him somewhere in the forest to go find help."

"Oh no," the woman breathed.

The man's eyebrows raised, and he shifted gears. "To the hospital then." The car lurched forward as he speed off, well above the speed-limit. "We're actually not too far from Grand Junction. It's a couple miles away," he murmured, almost to himself.

Elsa nodded, even though he wasn't looking at her. 

The woman offered her a beautiful smile. "We'll get there soon. And I'm sure your... husband will be fine." Her sky-blue eyes seemed to glow. 

Elsa nodded again and turned to stare out the window, the beautiful, snow-covered scenery passing by in a whir. Sensing Elsa wasn't in need of conversation, the woman turned back to look at the front window of the car. Worry began to gnaw at her insides. Had she really made the right decision? What if something happened to Jack? Was he going to hate her? Elsa bit down harder on her already raw lips. The burning sting helped take her mind off of the myriad of fears, worries, and doubts that threatened to drown her. Elsa was thrown forward as the man slammed on the breaks.

"We're here. Do you need any help?"

Elsa distractedly shook her head and yanked the door open before sprinting inside the hospital. In her frenzied state, she forgot to thank the kind couple. The door slid open just before Elsa ran into them. She slammed her palms on the front desk, making the receptionist jump.

"Please... I... need help." Elsa gasped for air in between words.

The receptionist's eyebrows rose. "How may I help you?" she replied in a cool, clipped tone.

"My h-husband... He was injured and then-then I left him to get help." The words came slowly, haltingly. Her tongue seemed to trip over itself.