No longer could Father Winter touch my bones

And numb the beats under my chest

As I trek my way home

My love bloomed for you in the delicious cold

and like the Christmas Rose, my soul erupted

into soft colors of crimson and gold

You became the light on the dark side of me

The Yang to my Yin

soft chaos wrapped in destiny

Gentle ice crystals kiss my lips

As I stare in between the falling snowflakes

Your bright blue eye’s suddenly eclipsed

By a time long forgotten and now remembered

Of a lifetime where our souls first loved

Under the midst of snow-covered embers

Tempus had broken our hearts each lifetime

Causing a fracture in the Universe

Desperate to heal every Christmastime

So, our souls would dance around each other under the hot July moon

Never colliding until the rustic colors of Autumn touch the earth

And with every Winter sun, this love would bloom.

tempus: means time in Latin

“Grecil...” The sudden whisper reached her ear, just as she lowered her right foot to place it on a lower step. Losing her footing, she tumbled off of the ladder. Two strong arms clamped around her body, breaking her fall.

Her left foot throbbed from being twisted out of place. But, she was unaware of this, as she stared into the concerned blue depths of her saviour. And as the comfortable living room area faded from view, she drowned deeper and deeper in the depths.

And then the memories resurfaced. Those awful memories that made her run away in the first place.

"Put me down, Spencer." She said wearily. An obstinacy took ahold of him and he clung even tighter to her, pressing her closer to his chest.

"I will not."

"Let me go, Spencer." She said, fear taking hold in her. "Right now."

"No, Grecil. I was a fool once. But never again, NEVER," he emphasized, "will I let you go again."

The tears threatened to spill out on her cheeks, her heart racing as she suddenly hoped and prayed. He captured her eyes with one gaze and stared deep into her eyes, counting the shadows within. His eyes roamed over her petite face, and he drank in the sight of her.

"Grecil Pruitt, once upon a time, I broke your heart. I thought that I would be better off without you. I thought that there was a better girl out there for me. And as only a fool could, I allowed you to slip away from me. No, not slip away from me...I sent you away, I remember that." He took a deep, steadying breath.

"I cannot undo all those hurtful things I said. And if I have to be honest, I don't even remember everything that I said to you. But what I do remember is the light vanishing from your eyes, your lips twitching, and the tears streaking across your cheeks. I remember that I wounded your precious heart."

"Spencer..." She tried to stop him.

"Every night, I go to bed, my heart empty. I see your face when I fall asleep, and again when I wake up. Try as I might, I can't forget you, for the memories follow me around. I step outside in the snow and I remember when I met you, early in December."

"I remember how you formed those snowballs and peppered me. I stood no chance against your accurate shots. I remember how we were laughing amidst the fun, and I remember your eyes sparkling into mine when I captured you in my arms." His arms tightened around her.

"I remember how you sat and listened to my problems daily, never once judging me for my mistakes; only loving me more."

"Spencer, stop, please." She interrupted softly.

"I will not. I will never stop loving you. You have thoroughly ensnared my heart; I know now that I will love you til my dying day...I will always love you, ma chérie..."

The love of winter is as harsh as it is breathtaking

As warmth freezes into a devotion that only melts slowly

As lovely as the quiet that comes with a layer of snow

As quickly as frost covers a window, as swift as a breath of icy wind

They smile like a early flower, a beautiful decay halted by a frosty touch

Breath halts as it’s stolen away in a wide-eyed instant

A mountain hiding treasures hidden in crystaline forms

The tiniest but most stunning gifts in thousands

An avalanche of emotion

A secret cave hidden in the snow

But a frozen lake can be as deadly as a fire

It leaves, frost in its wake

But the remebrance of a million moments lingers like ice

Returning again when it steals the warmth

And replaces it again with the wonder of cold