"What are we going to do?"
The view out of the SUV was as foggy as Mark felt inside. Mist, clouds and snow merged seamlessly into the grayness of his life.
"We're too far out for anyone to drive by and help get you out of this one." Sue added mercilessly.
He nodded, breathing a little deeper into the sound of the storm filling their world. "How's your Cell signal?"

Mark watched her eyes as Sue grabbed her purse. 'Nothing. We're really out here. If you'd wanted to get romantic a fireplace in a cabin would have worked better."
At least she was adding a little humor to her slash and burn treatment. She'd been pummeling him with it since they'd started the holiday weekend together.
The winter wonderland of a new year was ending up as no where as the promise to reconcile. Seven years of marriage and they still didn't have it right. This past year had been the worst. Hardly a day went by without sulking, silent treatment, fights, you name it. They both knew each other well enough to hit where it bled into their lives without healing.

"Well?" Sue hugged herself. The car was already getting cold. Her breath rose like a ghost swaying between them; the ghost of lost love.
He shrugged, knowing how she hated him to do that and pushed his door open. The blast of cold shut his eyes. His hand grabbed at his collar, pulling it tight around his throat.
"I'll go for help. You can stay here or go with. Your choice. I know you don't want me making it for you."

"Hey! buster, you're not leaving me here!" Her face was flushed with sudden fear. "You didn't plan this did you? Have an extra car waiting in the trees while I die out here?" He barely managed to bite off the reply. He shook off the snow already sticking to his scalp and bent into the wind. Thirty five and Princess here was all he had to show for it. She'd undermined every career move and hobby he'd attempted but divorce him? No way, that put the stamp of failure where everyone could see it. If nothing else, Sue was a woman who lived for the view of the public eye.

He smiled tightly, liking the feel of the tempest outside more than matching the one going on between them. The snow was wet and heavy. The car had made it over several smaller drifts before he'd hit this one going faster than he should. He popped the hood and laughed at the snow sculpture packed tight up around the engine block. That was the bad news. The good news was that the wind shrilled loudly enough to deafen

• 1
• 2
• next page >>

---

Add your voice

Know something about Short stories: Winter walk?
We want to hear your view. Write now!