Frozen Pond

Snow crunched under heavy foot falls. Ragged breathing escaped my lips as I ran. My heart pounded, fingers trembled.

I could hear him drawing closer, his own boots crashing against frozen ground. He was faster than me. I forced myself to run impossibly faster, skirting between trees, squinting through the blizzard. It was by some miracle I didn’t run headlong into the foliage as it became harder and harder to see.

His voice echoed among the forest. I couldn’t be certain which direction it was coming from. “Robyn! There’s no hiding from me! I’ll find you eventually.” The song in his voice sent chills down my spine.

I picked up the pace. He knew these woods better than anyone . . .

Perhaps I could outrun him. Perhaps I could escape, make it home to sit contently by the warmth of a fire.

But my hopes were bashed. I skidded to a stop, inches from the edge of a frozen pond. I looked back, my footsteps creating the perfect map for him to find me.

So these were my choices. Relinquish any chance at a getaway, or cross a thin layer of ice waiting to cave in. Mind racing, I turned back to the pond. We’d had an especially cold winter, the ice may be thick enough to cross.

Before I could step onto the frozen pond, I felt strong arms wrap around me. “Gotcha!”

My scream turned to a laugh as I spun in his arms. “Blaine! How did you sneak up like that?”

“I tiptoed,” Blaine whispered, pulling me close. “You’re freezing, Robyn. I think it’s safe to say I won and head home?”

“What would be the fun in that?” I asked.

His smirk was apparent, even through the low visibility of the afternoon. “We shouldn’t run around in this blizzard, anyway. I’ll take you home, wrap you up in a blanket, and make hot cocoa. How does that sound?”

I reached up to press my lips against his. Somehow, even in the cold, he was so warm. I felt safe in his arms. Loved like I’d never been before. Protected. “Okay, but I’ll totally win next time.”

“I’m sure you will.”

I pulled away from him and immediately regretted it. My foot slid onto the pond. I fell hard. Ice cracked beneath me like breaking bones. It gave way and I slid beneath the water.

“Robyn!” Though muffled, I could still hear the panic in Blaine’s voice. “Robyn!”

The cold shot through me, stiffening my muscles. I could barely move my fingers, let alone search for an opening in the ice. I tried to gasp for breath and frigid water filled my lungs. It burned like fire. Panic spread through my entire body, only making it harder to move.

There was a splash and those familiar arms wrapped around me again. Blaine. He was coming to rescue me.

Coughing and sputtering, Blaine pushed me onto the shore. I lay there shivering, but full of relief. I closed my eyes, just trying to catch my breath. It was okay. Everything was okay. We’d go home, warm up, and go on as if nothing happened.

I reached a hand out for Blaine, but it wasn’t there. I pushed myself up and realized he wasn’t anywhere to be found. His jacket lay beside me . . . but not him.

My eyes widened and I bolted upright. “No . . . No, Blaine!” I scrambled forward, leaning over the water, searching desperately for any sign of him. “Blaine please!”

Sirens echoed around me. I could hear footsteps approaching. Somebody knelt next to me. “Ma’am, everything is okay. You’re safe now.”

“No, Blaine! He went in after me!”

The woman looked toward the rest of our rescue group and gave a small nod. “Come with me.” She grabbed my arm, pulling me to my feet. But I didn’t want to go. I didn’t want to leave him.

“Please save him.”

“We’ll do what we can.” She led me to an ambulance, helped me warm up. My gaze never left the pond, I barely heard a word she spoke. I only hoped he would reappear, make his way toward me with that goofy grin, and wrap me up in his arms.

But he never did.

They recovered his body a few days later.

The pond had once been a place of joy. I would never look at it the same again.