My note to my parents simply said that the wedding was canceled, and I would be in touch. Throwing clothes and cosmetics into two suitcases, I waited until morning and began to drive. Hell, I didn’t even know who this client was who wanted privacy. I envisioned an old man on death’s door with war stories to tell—stories he felt would be relevant to someone.

Before they’d passed, I’d been close with my grandparents. The idea of listening to some old man’s stories in the middle of nowhere and writing them down wasn’t unappealing. I wished I’d spent more time listening to my grandfather’s stories.

Taking a deep breath, I secured my lined boots, added another layer of a down coat, and donned my gloves and hat. As I took one last look in the rearview mirror, determination continued to grow.

I was here and by God, I wasn’t going to freeze to death in a car on the side of the road.

Reaching for the door handle, I opened the latch. It took pushing with my full weight, but I finally managed to wedge the door open into the snowbank.

After securing my belongings, minus my phone, in the trunk, I climbed up onto what was the road. Ducking my head from the pelting snow, I continued to follow the white ribbon.

2. Julia

Julia

The monologue in my head lost its ferocity. My self-absorbed determination to leave my life behind became more morose as I contemplated the possibility that I had facilitated that very goal—leaving my life, not by choice but by death.

Despite my gloved hand protecting my face, my cheeks ached from the cold. My fingers and toes were numb as I trudged forward. During the hours of my drive, I’d seen only a half dozen other vehicles, and yet as I moved forward, that was what I yearned to see.

The snow glistened as I imagined white light dancing on the newly fallen accumulation.

Looking back, I hoped to see a car, a truck, or maybe a snowplow.

I’d read about igloos. The thought came and went as I imagined digging into the growing drifts. It still seemed as if it would be cold, but at least I’d be out of the wind.

The howl of the blowing wind played tricks as I searched again for a vehicle.

Nothing.

Time lost meaning as my thoughts went to my parents. I couldn’t imagine their disappointment at my behavior, at leaving the city before the holiday and two weeks before my wedding. And yet I loved them and I knew they loved me. We would work this out...unless I never returned.

I spun again at the sound of something over the howling wind.

Do mirages only appear in deserts?

Two headlights pierced the snow-filled darkness, growing bigger and brighter.

Is this real?