Boring Romance

Chapter 4: A Stroll Through Town

I slowly opened the door trying not to wake anyone. It made a loud creaking sound as it opened. The temperature dropped drastically from inside. If I were to guess I'd say it was maybe 15 degrees outside. All I had on was a super thin jacket. I don't own a winter coat. How dumb is that?

I walked down the stairs and decided to smoke another cigarette. Why not? I did buy them, so I might as well smoke them. I lit it up just as I reached the bottom of the stairs. Ice had covered the sidewalks causing me to almost slip and fall on my first step. The parking lot was full of cars. Some new and some old. I passed Colton's car just as I reached the edge of the road. I stood still for a second with my cigarette in my mouth, thinking about which way my house was. I decided to turn right. 

It took twenty to thirty minutes to drive here. I wander how long it will take to walk? I followed the sidewalk down the road counting each crack as I walked. One hundred and three cracks before the sidewalk disappeared, then I walked on the edge of the road standing on the curb every few steps. The grass was wet and icy. My shoes cost fifteen dollars. Needless to say they weren't winter boots. 

As I walked I felt a burning sensation in my right hand. I realized it was my cigarette. I forgot about it and it had burned down all the way to the filter. What a waste.

A car drove by the opposite side of the road I was on. It only had one headlight. Its tires made a tearing sound as it drove over the bits of ice. I wish I had my ride.

The winter air was freezing. I had to rub my shoulders for warmth. I walked with my head down. My feet dragged with every step. I watched my breathe leave my body in a cold wintery mist. I could feel my hands starting to numb so I moved them to my pockets. So cold, so very cold.

I was nearing an intersection. A few cars drove by and one of them honked their horn. Not sure at who though. There were a few businesses near by, but they all were closed. I really needed to find some place warm before I froze to death, if you can imagine that. 

I turned right onto another sidewalk. The wind picked up causing me to freeze even more. I walked and walked and walked. The road seemed to be going nowhere. My brain felt like pudding. I couldn't hardly think of anything. I was so tired. I closed my eyes as I walked further down the road. I swear I started dreaming. After this long and dramatic day my mind kept going back to the key moments. They replayed over and over again in my head. I had no control over my thoughts. It hurt.

As I walked my legs began to feel numb and I could hardly keep them off the ground. This was hard on me. Truly pushing my body to the limit. If it weren't so cold this would be a cake walk, but it is cold. Really fucking cold.

The sidewalk was cracked and contorted in some areas. I tried to step onto a new piece, but instead my foot hit the corner causing me to fall to the ground. My hands and elbows scrapped against the concrete creating fresh cuts of flesh. Blood trickled out in tiny little dots. I stayed on the ground for a minute before forcing myself onto my knees, then finally onto my feet. I started to drag down the sidewalk again.

Then the snow started. Small snowflakes fell so slowly, so quietly. It was hardly even noticeable. In fact it was beautiful. They would stick to my face then melt almost instantly leaving trickles of water running down my face. It was cold, but it was nice. Peaceful and painful. 

I thought about calling my mom or Colton, but decided not to. To proud perhaps. I don't know. I did however, check the time. It was 3:47am. I've been out in the cold for forty five minutes. It had seemed longer than that. 

I found myself approaching a Wal-Mart. I was so happy, finally a place where I could be warm. Luckily they stay open twenty-four hours a day. I had to walk up this big hill in order to enter the parking lot. The snow was slippery as I climbed.