They've lost their homes, to the fire and burn.

I bring them warm blankets with care and concern.

If there's anything you need, don't hesitate to ask.

Then I walk past a corner and pull out a match.

You've crossed over to spooked.

Stay tuned. Toon. Okay, so from the thermometer, hanging outside the window, it's the kind of freeze that only happens after the blizzard.

Coldest day of winter, fourth gradeish.

And I know, I feel that if I stay inside this trailer with my pop, something very bad is going to happen.

So I put on long johns, on top of my long johns, socks on socks, on socks, my coat with the hood.

And I step out into the blinding whiteness

cold like

the face of the moon cold, everything snow

no trails into the woods, no pass, I walk

slowly

because you can't mess up here.

No wrong steps, winter doesn't care.

Still every move I make, deeper into the woods, the more the fear falls away.

The more the chair inside the house fades.

No destination, just movement.

Cold crackles and snaps,

limbfuls of snow, I walk, making a game of how quietly I can move.

If I slow I can breathe.

...