my friend

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The snow takes me to places in town, places I didn't know existed. I'm not one who likes to go out of my comfort zone and venture about.

But it's okay, because the snow is my friend.

'You're hungry, right?' I hear her through my music.

Yes I am, I haven't had lunch yet. It takes a while to get there- and I don't know how we did- but the snow takes me to a sandwich shop. When I stepped inside and looked at all the options, I realised how hungry I really was.

I look outside and think, should I look for the most filling one here, or just get two?

'Look for the most filling one and get two of that.'

I snap my fingers and smile. Genius. That's exactly what I do, and I pay for the sandwiches.

After dusting off a near by bench, I sit down and put one of the sandwiches beside me. I open the other and take a bite.

Sitting here eating gives me a moment to think. If people saw snow the way I did, movies would really come to life. You know, with the families making snow angels and snowmen, and the snow fights, and… I don't know. I didn't have much of a childhood.

Looking down at the sandwich, I see snow on my lashes. There's probably more on my head, and my clothes, like the snow is hugging me.

But someone would call me mad for just leaving myself to be covered in white, so I rake my fingers through my hair, then brush the white off my arms, then bring a hand to my jeans- wait. I tilt my head and look closer, the snow looks like tiny crystals. I smile at the thought, then brush the snow off my legs, but with care.

New snow falls on me so I don't bother to brush it off again. Instead, I reach for my half-eaten sandwich, but touching it feels weird. The wrapper doesn't feel the same, I feel it less, and my fingertips are purple. Gloves would have done me good maybe ten minutes ago, a coat too, but my fingers are too numb now.

But it's okay, because the snow is my friend. I can't blame her for me feeling cold. How can I, when she's done so much for me? She used to calm my nerves before exams back in high school, and she used to hug me when I didn't do as well as I wanted.

Ignoring the numbness in my fingers, I finish the sandwich, then get through the other. After I bin the wrappers, the snow and I continue our journey together.