Paper Cut

I stood alone, unmoving
As I gazed at the frosted scene.
Bare trees consumed by heavy blankets
Of white surrounded the pond.
The snow-capped landscape glowed
Under the pale light of daybreak.

The sharp wind whipped my hair uncontrollably.
It slapped my cheeks and burned my eyes
But I made no move to stop its assault.

From the white sky
Came fluffy bits of angel feathers
That grew colder as they fell down to earth.
They sucked the heat from every fiber
Of my being when they touched my skin.

Shivering and shaking,
I retrieved a slip of parchment
From my back pocket.

I unfolded it and read the text
Again and again,
Wishing the words weren't true.
But life is funny that way.
Reality and the imagination
Don't like to trade places.

Soon the tears I had for so long
Stored deep inside the chambers of my heart
Broke free and soaked the page
Held loosely between my numb fingers.

With the added weight,
I could carry it no more.
So I let it slip from my grasp
And float away in the breeze.
As I watched, the final piece of my soul
Was torn apart
And crushed into the finest of powders.

Concrete in my decision,
I took a few wavering steps
Into the solid wall of wind.

Hopeless and unafraid,
I marched on resolutely.
I walked straight onto the icy pond,
Ignoring the warning signs
And the cracking sounds beneath my feet.

I took slow, purposeful strides
Until the weak structure finally gave way
And I fell into the depths.

I made no attempt to swim
Or get back to the surface
To see the sun one last time.
Instead I rejoiced and smiled broadly
Until the darkness stole me away forever.

It was over at last.