Finding Home Again by Kimberly Berryhill (book series to read .txt) 📕

Crack. A twig cracked nearby my feet. I was suddenly aware of the coldness that seemed to be seeping slowly into my body. I seemed to have collasped here on the cold, snow-covered ground. What was going on? Where was I? My eyes fluttered against the falling snow. I opened them slowly, sitting up carefully. I winced. My head throbbed painfully as I took in my surroundings. Nothing made sense. Everything was covered in a blanket of icy white. There was no sounds of animals. The only thing I can hear is my slow ragged breathing.
Wait. A sudden realization made my stomach tighten in fear. My breath was still caught in my lungs from trying to hear before. I took a deep gulp of air, and tried to clear my head. I held my mouth closed again, listening. I heard a man breathing once more. I looked up. There was someone else here in this small clearing that I had not noticed before now. He was bundled up in a thick jacket, gloves, boots, pants, and a wool hat. I realized I was dressed similar to protect against the cold weather. He stood a little less than a yard from me. He was watching me.
I stood up to stand my ground so fast that my head spinned. I wobbled on my feet. He seemed to have noticed my unsteadiness for he reached out a hand toward me. I staggered backward, frightened. He followed my movement with his eyes. He started to move toward me cautiously, his hand still out stretched. I backed away with every step he took. My back pushed up against a tree as i tried to reverse away from the stranger once more. He kept getting closer. I turned and ran as fast as the snow upon the ground would allow.
I could hear him slipping and sliding across the ground behind me to catch up. I didn't dare look back as I slipped through several bushes. The cold wind wipped against my face as I ran. I was suddenly knocked off my feet as I slid down an icy slope. I quickly pushed off the ground and took off again. I risked a glance behind my shoulder. He was only a few feet behind me now. I pushed my feet harder against the snow. My clothes snagging on more bushes and thorns. I broke through to another large clearing. I didn't stop to try and guess where i was. I could hear his footsteps and rough breathing still following.
I heard the sound of rushing water and slid to a stop just in time. I had slipped onto my side with my feet only a few inches away from a gushing river with ice caps running across the surface. I gasped as the coldness from the water splashed onto my boot. I quickly scrambled backwards and looked the way I had come. The man dashed into the clearing and, spotting me, raced my way. I didnt hesitate a second longer. I got to my feet and rushed along the side of the river never getting to close.
I sighted a bend through some trees ahead of me. In hopes of losing my running partner, I shot off into it. The branches of several willow trees swiped at my shoulders and face. I felt one of the twigs slice my face, and something warm run down my cheek. I didn't care. I pushed myself faster along. Suddenly, I saw my path was blocked up ahead. Several trees had been knocked down, and they looked impossible to climb across. My breath was hard and ragged. I tried to climb up the first of the fallen maple trees. I got up to a foot off the ground, but my hand lost grip on a high branch. I slipped and felt my skin scrape against the rough bark. My feet hit the ground, and I turned slowly to face the way I had come.
He burst through the last of the trees and met my gaze. He stopped short of a few feet away from me. He reached out his hand once more, his eyes never leaving mine. He drew nearer with a look of pleading in his eyes. I wanted to scream, but I couldn't catch my breath. His hand was only inches away from my face now. I noticed that he was cautious once more like he was afraid I would run again. A feeling of safety flooded through me, and I was no longer afraid. The closer I studied the man the more I got a feeling of familiarity. He took one more step closer and slowly cupped my face with his hand.
I gasped. The instant the skin of his fingertips touched my cheek memories rushed into my head. I was skipping through the grove in my colorful sundress. It seemed I couldn't reach the river fast enough. I was excited to get to James. The last of the trees cleared away, and I could see him standing by the bank dipping his feet into the water. I jogged the last few feet to stand beside him. He turned toward me. I looked deep into the eyes of my husband. We smiled at each other, and he grabbed my hand. Its the week of our honeymoon, I realize while I watched the scene play out.
The image changed to the view of the grove again, but it was raining hard across the grounds. We ran through the thick trees my hand grasped firmly in his. We were both wrapped in thick clothes due to the coldness of the weather. Four ear-splitting cracks filled the air. I glanced behind us just in time to see the trees falling on top of one another. James pulled me forward faster. We kept going until we reached the river. It was flooding over into the soil around us. Our feet sunk and squished into the grass with every step. Lightening flashed around us.
We eventually found shelter after scrounging through several bushes and thorns. We curled up under what looked like a large bush. We couldn't sleep, because of the thunder. The storm faded around midnight, though the rain still pattered around us. The cold weather turned the rain into snow. It stuck to the ground, and, by three in the morning, everything was covered in a very thick coat of ice. I climbed out of our hiding place marveling at the beautiful scene. I laughed and threw my hands above me. I tilted my head back and twirled around and around. I suddenly lost my footing and slipped on the icy ground. I fell onto my back and hit the rear of my head hard on a boulder with a sickening crunch. I slipped into unconsciousness almost immediately.
I blinked my eyes against the sun that had just blinded me. I shook my head and came back to reality. I looked into the deep depth of those same carmel eyes. I was barely aware of the tears sliding down my cheeks until he brushed at one with his gloved hand that was still on my face.
"James?" my voice is shaky and quiet, but he seemed to have heard me. He closed the rest of the distance between us in one easy stride.
"You remember!" his voice is hoarse as if he had been crying recently. I simply nodded and let him take me into his arms. "I was so worried." his statement came out muffled against my hair. I closed my arms around his shoulders and never wanted to let go ever again. I was home in his arms again at last.

Text: cover art from google images
Publication Date: 01-07-2012

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