Martha

Things outside have started taking a turn for the worse. The neighborhood schools have all decided to beat the storm and declare an early release day. It’s a good thing it’s Friday because it’ll take at least two days to dig out from all the snow that falls today.

Martha, one of the teachers from the high school, stands waiting at the bus stop. Normally she’d walk home but it’s just too cold and slippery out today to risk a broken leg on the way home. As she rocks from side to side in the freezing cold, fat snowflakes stick to her hair turning it a deep shade of red as they melt.  “I should’ve brought my hat.” she mumbles as she shakes out her curls.

After an eternity waiting in the bitter cold, the bus pulls up to the snow filled curb in front of Martha. She steps aside to let a tall, well-built man off and, as her foot comes down, she slips on the ice and falls backward into the snow. 

“Hey, are you ok?” a gruff voice asks her.

“Yeah, I guess I should be happy I didn’t break a leg,” she laughs as she holds out her hand to his.  As he pulls her up she stands and looks up to thank him and realizes she knows him.

“John.” she breathes.  Suddenly it’s blazing hot under her heavy wool coat and her cheeks flush a deep red, spreading a lovely radiant heat throughout her body. 

“What are you doing here?”

“Well, you want the honest answer?”

“Of course John. Spill it.”

“I’ve been riding the bus past the high school every day for a month. I’ve been trying to get up enough courage to get off the bus, storm into that school, and win you back but I could never bring myself to do it. Today, I saw you standing at the bus stop freezing to death and something pulled me out of my seat.”

John stretches his hand out to touch Martha’s sopping wet hair and moves closer so he can whisper the next words into her ear.

“I love you Martha. Please forgive me.”

Martha is overcome by the sudden rush of emotions flooding through her body and her arms fall limp to her sides. Tears spill over her cheeks and for a moment everything is forgotten except John with his hand in her hair and his face so close to her she can breathe him in.

His scent fills her with longing and her arms come up to wrap around his neck. She turns her head into his collar and breathes deeply remembering their long past.  Dreams of their shared future stretch out before her like the endless snowflakes.