Hot Snow

A Story by dklp88

Two souls connecting in the snow

I stepped outside for a cigarette. It was a blustery evening, and I had to pop up my collar jacket in order to block the wind, though it had very little effect. I hated the fact that the bar was now nonsmoking. It just wasn’t the same. I was thinking that maybe I should go and try to find a new bar. But I knew the bartender at this particular one, and even the change in policy would not make it worth it to change all of my habits. And smoking outside was not that uncomfortable, come to think of it. And smoking probably will kill me one day. I should probably give it up, and made the resolution to give up after today.

My train of thoughts is interrupted when I felt a tap on the shoulder. I turned around to be confronted by a short brunette with big eyes. That is what I noticed first"the fact that her eyes seemed disproportionally large compared to her other features. But it didn’t create an unpleasant effect, but added to the overall figure. Now, she wasn’t the prettiest of beings, not by a long shot, I know that for a fact. But she was rather interesting to look at.

Her voice was rather unremarkable, as she spoke to me, ‘Hello. Sorry, but can I have a light? I think I’ve lost mine. I’m so embarrassed, you don’t even know. So, anyways, do you mind?’

I smiled at her, trying to come off as trustworthy (even though I probably only managed creepy), ‘Sure, for a pretty thing like yourself, you can have as many lights as you want.’

She blushed, went a deep red, which was rather unbecoming, considering her whole physique. But her voice didn’t break, and I didn’t hear any tremors. ‘Thanks.’ She reached out her arm, and I used my lighter to bring up the cigarette. ‘Anyways, I’m Audrey.’

‘Well Audrey, we must have Breakfast at Tiffany’s sometime.’ I chuckled after adding this, while she just looked at me blankly.

‘I’ve never heard of Tiffany’s. Is it new?’ I laughed harder at her expression.

‘Sorry, no. It’s a reference to an old movie. Anyways, hello Audrey.’ I extended my hand out to shake hers, and, as a last moment decision, picked up her hand and kissed it. To my amusement, the act caused her face to adopt an even darker shade of red than previously. ‘It’s been an honour and pleasure to meet you.’ I go back to smoking my cigarette, and she moved up to stand beside me.

She was the one to speak next. ‘You know, I know that smoking will kill me one day, but I really don’t want to quit. It’s not the worst thing that could kill me.’

I glanced in her direction. ‘Well, it’s not the best way to die either. To be less morbid, what is your preferred way to die?’

She laughed. ‘How is that any less morbid than talking about the worst way to die? But I’d like to do it with as little trouble as possible. Of course, that isn’t going to happen, but a girl can dream. How about yourself?’

‘Fighting four bear simultaneously, in order to help some random people escape. I’ll be able to kill three, before succumbing to wounds, but not before fatally injuring the fourth.’

She looked at me with doubt in her eyes. ‘From just looking at you, I doubt you could take on a bobcat, let alone anything like a bear.’

I laughed it off. ‘Yes, but if I lived in a perfect world, I probably wouldn’t even be here.’ I decided to probe her for information. ‘So, Audrey, where you work at?’

She stared at me. ‘Why don’t you tell me a little about yourself? Hell, you haven’t even told me your name yet, and you’re asking me for information about where I work? Sounds a little stalkerish.’

‘I guess you’re right. I’m Chris, and if it makes you feel any better, I work for a delivery company. Well worked. Thank God I have some disposable income. Enough to last me about three months, even if I have some expenses add up, which I rarely do. And I can’t believe I’m telling you all this. Doesn’t really put me on the best footing.’

‘Maybe it doesn’t in the short term, but it’s better than being dishonest and being found out later. I work as a secretary at a small firm. Pay’s not good, but at least I don’t get sexually harassed and at least I have a job. So I bear it.’ She tapped her cigarette, ashes falling to the ground. We stood in silence for a few moments, and a few flakes of snow started to fall to the ground. Audrey looked up, and though it may have been my imagination, I saw the few moments of pure unrestrained joy pass through her face. The flakes were falling lazily, and though the wind was blowing, it didn’t seem to affect the passage of the snow. Instead they just fluttered around, and, again this just may have been a problem of attention, but it seemed to me that the first flake touched Audrey on the nose, and she grinned.

I couldn’t help but to comment on this. ‘So, I guess you’re a fan of snow.’

She turned to me, as if she had forgotten that I was there, ‘Well, yes I do. It’s really pretty to watch, and fun to play around in. I guess that sounds a little childish of me, but I will tell you that I’m not childish. Hard to believe, but I won’t start singing musicals now and have all the forests animals follow me. It’s just that snow…’ Her voice trailed off, and I let it. After a half minute had passed, I though the conversation was over, but she continued again. ‘It’s just that I grew up with snow. And then I came here, and it’s a rather rare experience. So when it does snow, about the one or two days a year, it reminds me of the better days, when I wasn’t trying to make ends meet every day.’

Here I had a good long side glance at her. Audrey was looking into the distance, keeping her gaze fixed on the horizon. The snow was starting to cover her hair, and turning the top of her head a pure white. The cigarette dangled out of her hand and ash fell from the tip. The ember was flickering slightly. If there was an artist here, or a poet, or any form of creative creator would create some piece based off of this image. But words could not fill me. And in the back of my mind, the cold started to bother me.

However, to my surprise, Audrey was the one to leave first. She turned away and started to walk to the door. She glanced back to me before leaving, with a slight smile on her face. ‘No, I don’t have a boyfriend or girlfriend, by the way. Just in case you were wondering. It was nice talking to you. And if you haven’t given up on smoking by tomorrow, I might just be back.’ With that she stomped on her cigarette, and entered the building.

I stared at my cigarette. Maybe I’ll keep on smoking. Just for a few more days.