Four years after the life changing storm, a young sixteen-year old girl moved into town. She was the opposite of Solana in looks; pale skin, deep brown hair, and aquamarine eyes, which contrasted Solana’s golden skin and hair, and emerald eyes. This girl was Miyuki. A girl who constantly moved from place to place and never staying in one place for too long. Miyuki was shy, so she always had difficulties making friends, However, it was different with Solana.

The girls had a strange connection that they couldn’t describe. It was as if they had known each other all their lives and had been reunited after years apart. The two girls were walking down their road on a lazy morning in early March. Little puffs of snow drifted carefully to the ground where they quickly turned to slush. Through the sounds of sloshing boots, you could hear the trembling voice of a young girl telling her friend a story about a terrible storm that happened four years ago.

“It was horrible,” Solana concluded. “Like the ice was freezing me exactly where I was. A part of me will always be twelve years old and scared stiff. Everything about winter frightens me now.” She paused. “I don’t know, I can’t really explain it.”

Miyuki was speechless in amazement and horror. “Damn, that really happened?”

Solana nodded sadly, “Yes, it did. It was terrible.”

“I bet,” Miyuki agreed, once again in amazement, the thought of such a storm was almost too horrible to imagine. “Wow, it’s so hard to believe.”

“I know,” Solana smiled ruefully, “I used to love winter, and now…” She took a deep breath and finished; “Now I hate it.”

“Because of that storm, right?” Miyuki wondered.

Solana nodded.

Miyuki placed a hand on her friends’ shoulder, “Good thing winter only comes once a year.”

Smiling, her friend replied, “Yeah and now I like spring, whenever the beginning of March rolls around, I pray for rain.”

“Wow really? To be honest, I love winter,” Miyuki laughed.

“That’s funny,” Solana said laughing along, “You’re the first person to honestly tell me they like winter, everyone else kind of agrees and pities me.”

Miyuki’s eyes widened in surprise, “Seriously? That’s so mean.” They walked in silence for a while until Miyuki said quietly, “Hey, Solana, I think I remember that storm.”

“What do you mean?”

Miyuki stared up at the falling snow, “Well, four years ago, we lived in a town not too far from here. I remember that we had constant snow for weeks, but not nearly as much as you got here. I would spend as much time outside as possible, until my mom had to drag me inside because my skin would be frozen. But… instead of feeling cold I felt almost warm… and completely full of energy. Strange, eh?”

Solana stared at her, “Yeah, that’s weirder than me being hospitalized because of how sick I got. Are you sure you’re alright in the head?”

Miyuki laughed, pushing Solana into the melting snowbank. “Hey Solana, want to have a sleepover at my house tonight? I can help you pray for rain.”

Solana’s golden face shone as the girl grinned in happiness, “That’s a great idea, but are you sure, I thought you liked winter?” At Miyuki’s smile, she added, “I’ll come over to your house tonight okay? I have to talk to my mom first.”

“Okay,” Miyuki said grinning as well, caught up in all the excitement.

After Solana ambushed her mother, begging and pleading for permission to sleepover at Miyuki’s, she ran upstairs to pack things she’d need. She hesitated at the picture of her father that was carefully placed at the back of her drawer, then stuffed it into an unused pocket of her bag where no one would find it.

Putting a smile on her face, Solana flew down the stairs and out the door barely managing to shout a goodbye to her mother. With the cold air biting at her face, she raced down the street.

Solana fidgeted as she waited for Miyuki to let her in. She called a greeting to her friend as she was let into the house. Her excitement grew as she informed her friend that she had brought some movies that they just had to watch.

“Okay,” Miyuki grinned, “This is going to be so great, my mom already ordered pizza.”

The girls went to Miyuki’s room until they heard the doorbell ring. They raced downstairs to grab pizza and rushed back up.

Eating and gossiping the girls had both forgotten about their earlier conversation and the storm.

Things slowly started to change when the girls started watching movies. The mood inside the house grew tired as the girls settled. An eerie calm descended inside as all sound outside stopped, which started to unnerve the girls. Shifting restlessly, the girls tried to concentrate on their movie, something that was not easily done.

Solana stood, “I’m going to make popcorn,” she said, trying to shake the restlessness that had descended upon them, “Why don’t you look in my bag for another movie?”

“Sure,” Miyuki smiled; glad to have something to do. She found Solana’s bag as she heard popping coming from the kitchen. Opening a smaller pocket, she pulled out a movie, or something with the same shape as the movie. She looked and saw a picture of a man. The man was very handsome and had a smile that made Miyuki blush.

She was still looking at the picture when an angry voice behind her said, “What are you doing with that?”

Miyuki’s head whipped around as Solana strode forward and snatched the picture from her friend, “Don’t you know not to snoop through people’s things?” She demanded.

Miyuki blinked as her friend turned her back on her, “I was looking for a movie. I found it by accident.”

“And so, you just had to look?” Solana said as her voice got angrier.

Miyuki stayed silent. Quietly, she asked, “Who is that? In the picture I mean.”

“My father.”

“What happened to him?”

Solana spun around, anger blazing in her green eyes, “Why do you care? He could be dead for all you know. Why does it matter anyway?”

Miyuki stayed silent again. There was no way she would get any information from her friend. “Why don’t we get ready for bed? It’s getting late.” She said instead, trying to ignore the awkward silence that came over them.

Solana nodded stiffly and turned away from Miyuki. The two said nothing as they got ready and curled under their sheets.

After a moment of pressing darkness, Miyuki whispered, “I’m sorry Solana.”

Solana sighed, “Don’t be. I’m the one who freaked out, so I should be sorry.”

“Was that really your dad?” Miyuki asked carefully, not wanting to upset her friend any more.

“Yeah,” Solana answered simply. Miyuki didn’t push her for more information. After a moment of silence, Solana said, “I hope it rains tomorrow.”

“Yeah, so do I,” Miyuki whispered with a smile in her voice.

After a moment of eerie silence, Miyuki’s thoughts drifted back to their earlier conversation and she said, “I wonder what would happen if that storm from four years ago came back.”

“I sure hope it doesn’t!” Solana screeched, her eyes widening in the darkness, her heart beginning to race in fear.

“Ssh, quiet down.” Miyuki whispered frantically, “My mom thinks we’re asleep.”

“But what if—”

“Solana please,” Miyuki interrupted, “Don’t be worried. That storm won’t come back, I mean it was just a freak episode of nature so it’s practically impossible.”

The words stood stiffly in between the two girls, suffocating them with their presence. The words repeated themselves over and over in Solana’s mind growing more ominous every second. Practically impossible… practically…

That mean’s its possible, Solana thought, shivering with fear.

By Solana’s abrupt silence, Miyuki could tell she had worried her friend. She opened her mouth to ask her friend but closed it again when the suffocating presence bore down on her, squeezing her chest. She would just make things worse if she confronted her friend.

I wish I knew why she’s so worried, Miyuki thought, I know it was what I said, but really, the storm was just a storm, it’s not like it was created by magic or anything. She shook her head and wrapped her covers more tightly around her.

I’ll think about it tomorrow. She told herself firmly.

The girls tossed and turned trying to get comfortable while their thoughts sped through their minds. It just wasn’t possible for the storm to return. It couldn’t be. Yet, while both girls knew this, they couldn’t help but worry. The golden-haired girl worried for its return while the chocolate-haired child worried for her friend and wondered if it were really possible for it to come back.

During the eerie calm of the blackest part of the night, the girls slept dreamlessly, as the very same calm seeped into their bones. The girls shivered as the chill settled above their hearts in a never-melting icicle.