Whiteout

A:
The wind’s begun its whispering
a quiet scrape along the eaves
Did you see how fast the sky went pale?

B:
I did. Snow’s coming sideways now
like someone shaking flour through a sieve
Should we be worried?

A:
Not yet… maybe
But the fire’s shrinking
and the woodpile’s nearly gone

B:
I thought the storm would pass by midnight.
Listen…
that’s not wind, that’s the house groaning.
How cold is it?

A:
Colder than before
The windows are fogging from the inside
My mind feels slow and my hands are cramping

B:
Don’t say things like that
Just keep talking to me
Listen to my voice, I am here

A:
Then talk with me about morning
tell me we’ll see it
Tell me this storm will crack open into sunlight

B:
I want to
But the flame grows smaller
and cares nothing of our hopes

A:
If we move closer…
Share whatever heat we still have

B:
Wait
Did you hear that?
Everything went quiet…
Is the storm finally ending…

A:
… or is it something else?
Stay close
Don’t close your eyes
Not yet. Not…..

…..
….
…
..
.…. the last ember sighs
the wind pauses
the darkness leans in