Winter Spirit Novels & Stories

Cold sweat beaded on the tip of her nose, her forehead, and even her back. She wanted to tell me that she loved me, but was she even worthy? Her love would be far too cheap then. She wanted to say she regretted it, but was it really too late? The damage had already been done. She could not even convince herself. I was momentarily surprised to see the tears slowly trickle down her chin. This selfish, willful woman was actually crying. She slowly grasped my hand. Belinay’s choked voice was barely audible. “If you still have even a shred of affection for me, then let me make it up to you, okay? Even if you won’t let me stay as your wife, we can still be family for the rest of our lives.”

Wendy stating the obvious, "and neither of us wants to wait another nineteen years." "Definitely not." I replied firmly. "My task is nearing the end and if you want to wait..." "I'll wait." My turn to sound desperate. "We can retire early, both of us, maybe in a few years, and spend our Winter together." "Just one winter?" My hopes had been raised then dashed. "Our Winter." Wendy said. "I believe our lives have four seasons. Our first time was Spring, our second was Summer this is our Fall and when I return we have Winter."

The winter solstice arrived with a quiet, breathtaking severity. By mid-December, the high alpine ridge was locked in a deep, pristine freeze, encased in thick blankets of white snow that muffled every sound in the forest. The wind howled down from the jagged northern peaks, driving sub-zero temperatures against the thick, insulated logs of the cabin, but inside, the atmosphere was a sanctuary of amber firelight and steady, enveloping warmth.

Night had gotten so dark, the flickering fire from the lamps nearby had been swayed slightly under the night wind. Where’s Elias right now? Asteria didn’t enjoy staying out for too long, exposed in the chilly night, she might have got sick no matter how strong her body had become. It was that she thought some time ago. To her surprise. She found out that winter actually wasn’t that chilly, even to the extent that there was only a thin layer of snow on the ground. The temperature was tolerable even at night, the blowing wind occasionally teased the tree branches, issuing creaking sound, yet when it blew the skin, the atmosphere became more comfortable.

At dinner, my mom hit me with, "Tristan, why didn't you bring Chloe along? "We're not getting any younger, and you guys live so far away. Who knows how many more times we'll get to see Chloe?" I felt a lump in my throat and just kept my head down, focusing on my food to keep the tears at bay. "Mom, Chloe is off traveling with Sheila. We'll bring her by to see you guys for New Year's." No sooner had I said that than my phone started buzzing. It was Sheila. I stepped outside to take the call.

*Winter* The cold air seeped in through the cracked dormitory windows, a steady reminder of the raging snowstorm outside that turned the quaint village into a frosty wonderland. I had been locked inside for what felt like an eternity—two days, but who's counting? As beautiful as winter is, it brings its moods, unpredictability, folding over me like a heavy blanket of snow. It seduced me with its shimmering appeal yet warned me sternly—it was a force to be reckoned with, not to be tangled with.

Just the look, direct and unhurried, and then he turned back to the coffee. I breathed out. He put the second mug beside the machine. Lily appeared at 7:30 in her pyjamas with Gerald and the focused energy of someone who had woken up with a plan. The plan, it emerged over breakfast, involved the garden terrace, the sunflower planter, and what she described as a scientific investigation into whether Steven the worm had made it through winter. "It's been very cold," I said. "Steven is resilient," Lily said, with the certainty of someone who had decided this in advance and was not going to be moved.

Sutburg was filled with flowers in spring, petals flying toward us in the wind, pink, white, and many other colors. Some flowers landed on my shoulder, and I thought to myself that I had made it through winter. And finally, my spring was here.

Let's do what she said. "Thirty thousand. Consider it the price of ending things between her and me." So this was what it felt like when the heart hurt until it went numb. My ears rang, and even Marissa's voice became muffled. "I'm going on vacation with Adrian and Kyle this week. Next week school starts, and our two families will go to Harrington together." She left those words behind and walked away with Adrian Pierce. I calmly stood up. The next day, I placed a divorce agreement and a declaration of severed ties in her study.

They’d essentially had the room turned into a fireplace, surrounding us with enough brick and mortar to contain the blaze to that section. I don’t remember much from the days that followed. Only that three days later, I’d woken up to birds chirping, the sun shining brilliantly, and gorgeously bright flowers blooming—in the middle of winter—way too soon for their appearance. Within a day the biting sting of Vetur had returned with a vengeance so bitter I’d known I’d offended its current host. A fact evidenced by the frost covered grounds, lack of plants and chirping birds, and the urge to burrow beneath several layers and hibernate. I’d felt the need to call and apologize to the Vetur because