The Ice Reflects

I saw them, when I was supposed to be alone.

But they were not.

And I had a feeling they saw me too.

I walked along the edge of the lake, bare feet blue with cold.

Numb.

I felt numb.

Finally.

Which was fine, I suppose. There was a reason I was alone, anyway.

Crack.

Eyes met eyes.

Mine, as cold as they’ve always been.

Theirs, several pairs, watching in fragments of the ice, observing.

Beckoning.

Hating.

Longing.

I knew.

I had to go to them.

Water moved and the ice shifted,

And I saw her.

Evelyn.

My love.

She smiled at me, the skin of her mouth splitting, blue blood spilling from her lips...

Her eyes were so beautiful.

Silver.

The ice queen.

She held a hand, and forward I walked, leaving skin upon these frozen wastes.

I didn’t feel it, staring almost through her, towards the lone cabin, surrounded by white pines. Silent, skeletal sentinels guarding my treasures.

I almost saw her hanging there, then remembered where she hung, there in the bathroom.

There for me.

Where I left her.

Still beautiful,

She was here now.

Striding toward me,

More beautiful now, the white translucency of her hand gripping my arm,

Crack.

Breaking it.

I smiled at her in return.

Evelyn.

My love, leading me further out,

To the center of the lake.

I saw others, hands pushing against the surface, their eyes watching me all this time.

One more pair every time I came here,

To this place,

But none of them captured me like Evelyn,

Even as I captured them before,

She was the one.

Crack.

I fell.

To their arms,

From hers.

Evelyn,

I am yours.

Reflected,

In ice,

Captive to you,

As you were to me.