The Snow Girl

Chapter 16

" I didn't know when I closed my eyes. But I wished I never opened them"

Elizabeth felt cramped all over,stiff and her feet numb. Muffled voices echoed in the background. She could hardly breathe as if something heavy was on her. She slowly peeled her eyes open. It was her parents. They were securely over her, covering her.

"Mom. Dad. Get up." No answer.

The voices outside were much clearer. She could hear the shovelling away of snow and the concerned voices of a number of persons.

Elizabeth pushed and tried to wriggle from under them, "C'mon get up" she strained.

Nothing.

Her heartbeats skyrocketed as she struggled some more. A man called from outside but Elizabeth didn't hear. She was panicking and scared to death.

"No no no no no." A cold tear rolled down her cheek. She wriggled some more and managed to push her mother's limp body off her. She knelt down before them and shook them.

"Mom, dad please get up. Get up" she started sobbing.

The cabin door was kicked down and a man who was sweating heavily rushed in," Is everything alr-". He stopped a few inches behind Elizabeth, who was shaking them hard,begging her parents to wake up.

A few other persons came in like manner,watching her trying to wake the cold stiff figures in front of her. After a few moments they began leaving with tears of their own. The man who came in first, knelt beside her in tears and turned to her.

"They- they're gone Miss Snow. They seemed to have used their body heat to save you. I'm very sorry."

Elizabeth stopped shaking them. She felt like she was running out of oxygen and weak. "Leave".

"Let's go miss Snow" the man continued," you're going to freeze if you stay in the cold any longer".

"Just. Just give me some space" she stared at her parents. The man gave up and left her in the cold snow buried cabin.

"I couldn't leave." Elizabeth told Marie in sobs. Marie hugged her while she cried." I- I wanted to die w-ith them but I could- I couldn't kill myself. I couldn't die."

Marie straightened Elizabeth and wiped the tears from her face after she sobered. Elizabeth let out a small gasp when she saw Marie crying too.

"Why are you crying?" She asked.

"It just happens." She wiped her tears away."I lost my parents too. In fact, they saved everything penny they had and sent me away to get an education. They suffered and sacrificed everything they had, down to their own dinner so that I wouldn't end up poor like them. I never wanted to leave but I had to because I knew all their suffering would be in vain and that they would die everyday seeing me suffering with them. By the time I came back for them it was too late."

She looked at Elizabeth's shocked face. "But you know how I eased the pain?" Elizabeth shook her head no. "Everyday I reminded myself that they loved me enough to sacrifice their own food and comfort just so that I could eat and be comfortable."

She looked Elizabeth in the eye and held her hands. "Elizabeth your parents loved you to the point that they sacrificed their lives for you. They gave you the last bit of warmth in their bodies, their last breath, so you could breathe. And as long as you're alive, they will always be with you and in you keeping you warm."

A tear rolled down Elizabeth's cheek. Not one of sadness and grief but one of acceptance and gratitude. She felt a significant warmth spreading through her being. She squeezed Marie a big hug and a genuine smile played on her lips.

"Thank you. Thank you so much"

Marie returned the hug, happy and relieved to see and know that Elizabeth was emotionally at peace. " Your welcome dear".
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I really tried not to cry while writing this. Tell me what you think.

I know your curious about how she got her powers. That would come soon enough.

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