A Glimpse of Winter, a Second of Snow

by Madi Rickel

As day slowly faded into night, soft moonlight replaced the warm light of the sun and snow began to blanket the ground outside of my window. I watched as the snowflakes fell, their descent delicate and slow. They danced in the air as if they had waited their entire lives to waltz their way to the earth’s surface just for me. I imagined I was one among the many flakes on the final leg of their long trip. I floated by and made my free fall, I was propelled by cool air, spinning back and forth. I danced around the other snowflakes, who paid me no mind as they too were only focused on the joy of their journey as they approached their destination. As I came closer to the ground, I made my final stance as one being and joined the many flakes all molded together to make snow. 

 Although I am smart enough to know that the air is cold and dry outside, from inside it seemed so warm and inviting that I could not resist venturing into the night and joining the moon and the trees and the snow.  

To rise out of bed was second nature, much like zipping my winter coat and double knotting the laces of my boots as I prepared to leave my warm home. Refreshing was the air of twilight, which filled my senses ever so sweetly. I made my way along the stone path that circled my home, which brought me to the clearing I had set out to reach. The snow was untouched, not by me nor the other animals that dwelled along my property lines. It was magnificent and daunting to make the first impact on my little slice of beauty. The sun had finally been taken over by the moon, and the universe above me began to reveal itself. 

I laid on the fresh snow, it enveloped me in a cushion like no other. Snowflakes landed on my face, though I could not feel their impact I was sure they did, and could see their paths as they fell around me. The surface beneath me was cold, but comforting, the snow had molded to my body, holding me in place as if I were a precious artifact in need of delicate storage. 

When looking at the sky, I found it difficult to distinguish stars and their constellations from the snowfall. But to dwell on such a trivial thing as that would cause me to lose sight of the peaceful night I happened to find myself in. I could see the small flakes gathering on my eyelashes, but I did not mind. The calm that surrounded me filled me with warmth, it wrapped around my senses and allowed me to clear my thoughts in the most beautiful of ways. 

I was not just in the tranquil moment of this late winter night; I had become the moment. The snow beneath me and the vast expanse of sky above me had invited me to live in this peace, if only for as long as the night was still night.  

I wondered if anyone could see me. Was it odd to be lying here late at night, letting snow cover me as I looked toward sky? Were there animals ready to pounce at me just out of sight? Was there an entity above, staring me down as I stared up? I wasn’t quite sure if I was completely alone in this moment or if I was sharing it with countless others just out of my reach. Was there someone on a faraway planet looking up at the stars, were they aware that among those stars there was a planet holding a person who was looking right back at them? Who’s to say what creatures had laid their eyes on me that night, I am not sure it matters all that much. 

The peace of the night and the glow of the moon reflecting off the snow begged me to stay in the cold, so I did.