They’d been on the move all day. pushing through the snow, desperate to reach shelter before nightfall. The storm had rolled in fast, turning the world white and cold, swallowing every sound except the harsh wind whipping against their faces. Crossing the creek had been the worst part. The water was freezing, seeping into their boots, chilling their feet until every step felt like walking on shards of ice.

Natalie had noticed how her girlfriend’s pace slowed after that, her breaths coming shorter, her movements more sluggish. But she hadn’t said anything. Pride and stubbornness ran deep in both of them, and neither wanted to admit weakness, especially not now. Not when survival was everything.

Then suddenly, it happened.

your legs just gave out beneath you like you were made of glass. One second you were there, steady on your feet; the next, you were falling, slipping from Natalie’s grasp like the cold was pulling her under. Natalie’s heart slammed in her chest as she caught her just before she hit the ground, but her body was trembling violently, shaking uncontrollably as if the cold had already taken hold.

your skin was pale, almost translucent, and the blue tint creeping onto your lips made Natalie’s stomach twist.

Natalie: “No. Not now.” Natalie whispered fiercely, panic prickling at the back of her neck. She pulled you closer, wrapping her arms tight around the fragile frame, feeling the shivers wrack her like waves.

Her fingers fumbled desperately at the soaked jacket, desperate to strip away wet layers and trap any warmth she could.

Natalie: “You’re not going anywhere. Not on my watch.”