Rendez-vous

When the sky changed colours, the deep blue lightening, turning to pink and orange, Winter emerged from her slumber. Her gaze glided on the fresh snow she’d sprinkled over the landscape overnight. Brushing snowflakes from her hair, she let out a heavy sigh.
She stretched before walking across the fields and into the forest. The purple Crocuses formed a path through the land, guiding her up the forested hill. Sparrows sang and searched for food in the patches of grass showing through the melting snow.

Spring sang with the birds as the colours of dawn appeared between the naked trees. Ignoring the hollow in her chest in favour of her excitement, she smoothed the batter and put Winter’s favourite cake in the oven before roughly chopping some ginger for the tea. Just as the kettle whistled, a cold gust of wind blew through the open window. She smiled, and headed outside to greet her lover.

Winter’s skin dampened as the warmth of Spring’s hut thawed her frosty body. Spring wrapped her in a blanket made of moss, and kissed her cheek once more.
“Tea?” asked the cheerful spirit.
Winter nodded and sat on the bed, observing the assortment of seedlings Spring was crafting this year. Small spruce saplings were huddled in a corner, and eggs were laid in hay near the stove. Spring brought a pot of tea and sat on the bed near Winter.

They talked of the seasons, the forest, the rolling hills and the fields, sharing the cake with swifts and chickadees. A family of rabbits ventured out from under the bed to nibble on crumbs. They watched the buzzing of life filling the tiny house with delight, and wished the day could last forever.

When they stopped talking, they laid down and cuddled, listening to the sound of nearby villages celebrating the equinox, until the sun went down.

Winter sighed in the darkness.

“It never gets any easier, does it?” She asked.
Spring tightened her embrace and stroked her long white hair tenderly. Without a word, they got out of bed. Spring slipped on a cloak as Winter watched the eggs tremble, ready to hatch.

Spring took Winter’s hand, and they left the warmth of the shed. With the moon as their lantern, they made their way down the hill towards the lake. They slid inside the cold waters and held each other again.
Winter clutched Spring’s hand, and she caressed her lips in return. Her green eyes shone like a beacon in the darkness.

They kissed under the moonlight, Winter’s last breath liberating Spring’s powers.

The last remains of surface ice melted as Winter’s lifeless body slowly sunk in the depths of the lake.