Roses Bloom in Winter

   He always thought of himself as unloved. If no one seen him, no one could care. Not that he cared. He didn't care for the attachments of love. He was the spirit of winter. Who would love someone who brought nothing but ice and snow wherever they went? He certainly didn't know or care.

   The crunch of snow under his feet echoed through the area around him. A small stream sloshed beside him. With a flick of his wrist the clear water solidified and a thin layer of ice formed over it. He smiled to himself. He heard laughter ahead of him. Light, sweet, bubbly laughter. He gazed through the trees ahead of him and noticed a girl. She was a pink hedgehog with short quills and bright emerald eyes. He watched as she spun in circles catching drifting snowflakes on her tongue.

   Her coat and scarf were wrapped tightly around her. As she laughed her breath tumbled out in small white plumes. He watched her in awe. Never had he been so enchanted by a mortal. She seemed so graceful, so fragile. Suddenly, she lost her footing and tumbled to the ground below. His breath caught in his throat and he ran to her. Before he could grab her coat sleeves, she hit the snow with a soft fwump.

   She just laid there in the soft white fluff as he stared at her. Then she burst into a fit of giggles. He looked at her in confusion as she moved her arms and legs across the snow. She looked to old to be making snow angels. Maybe she was crazy? He considered the thought since she seemed to continue in her laughter.

   He stepped towards her, the snow crunching beneath his feet. She suddenly stopped and sat up. He stood there frozen. She looked at him, through him.

   "Hello?" She called out, her voice soft and smooth. It sent a shiver down his spine. "Anyone there?" She asked. He couldn't answer, but he did.

   I'm here.

   She stiffened as if scared. "W-who's there?" She stammered. He couldn't tell if it was from the cold or fear. He hoped it was the cold. "Hello?" She shivered. He hesitated.

   She let out a sigh, her breath coming out in a plume. "I'm hearing things." She said to herself. He sighed inwardly.

   You're not hearing things. I'm here.

   She looked to where he stood. "Where are you?" She asked as she looked harder. She rose to her knees and continued to look. He stared into her emerald eyes and found himself lost for words, lost in general. He knew exactly where he was, at least he did.

   She sighed once more. "Are you still there?" She asked him.

   Yes.

   "Then where are you?"

   He hesitated.

   Here.

   He felt horrible being complicated, but he couldn't let her try to reach out to him. What if she touched him? She'd discover him.

   She narrowed her eyes in annoyance. "Oh, thank you. That is so very helpful." She replied sarcastically.

   He bit his bottom lip.

   I'm in front of you.

   She reached out to confirm his presence. He didn't dare move. She extended her hand, her fingers outstretched. She couldn't seem to find him. How could she find someone she can't see or touch? She released an exasperated sigh and plopped back into the snow. She pulled a thermose from the inside of her coat and unscrewed the cap.

   Steam floated out in white clouds. She lifted her head with closed eyes and inhaled deeply. A smile crept onto her perfect lips and she released a relaxed sigh. She raised the steaming bottle to her mouth and drank. She screwed the lid back on and sat the thermos in the snow beside her. She laid down on the snow and her eyes fluttered closed as she dozed off into a slumber.

   He stared at her sleeping body and couldn't help but wonder what was so good about the liquid in the container? He'd seen other mortals do the same thing in the cold, but what made it so enjoyable? He wanted to know.

   He stepped towards her sleeping body.He was careful to take slow steps so the snow beneath his feet didn't crunch so harshly. When he was less than two feet away, he knelt down in the snow and reached for her thermos. He grabbed the smooth warm surface, unscrewed the lid and raised the container to his lips. He was confused when nothing came out. He pulled his mouth away from the container and looked inside. The once warm liquid was now frozen solid. He let out a sigh of disappointment.

   A sudden aroma caught his nose and he followed it to the girls mouth. He lowered his nose to her lips and inhaled. The smell was sweet and rich. Desperate for a taste of what smelled like heaven, he lowered his mouth to hers. Her lips were soft and warm, so soft and warm that he found himself losing taste in what was in the girls thermos and enjoying the taste of her lips.