Short Story: A Moonlight Dance

   The night was frigid. Dead. Not a sound to be heard over the soft, chilling breeze, except for the shifting of snow, as a young woman trudged through the dark alone. She was bundled up from head to toe, but the air still stung her exposed face, her cheeks and nose bright red. She wasn't wandering aimlessly. She had a pair of skates slung over her shoulders and a destination in mind. It didn't matter that she could hardly see through the thick fall of snowflakes. She knew the path by heart. 

    Deep in the woods, was a lake. Completely frozen over in the winter, she tried to keep it cleared of snow, so she could come skate and think alone. Always alone. There was a layer of snow now though, but she didn't care. She sat on the edge of the ice, lacing up her skates, and the silvery moon was finally peeking out of the dreary clouds. The snow sparkling and shined, and she let out an ice breath, gazing out at the winter landscape. It was simply serene. With her heart heavy, she stood and skated on light, practiced, feet. Starting slow then picking up speed as silent music played in her head. 

    She glided, she spun, she danced. With each passing second, she went faster and harder. The music in her grew louder and harsher. She flew, she jumped, she whirled with a fervor that warmed her blood, her bones. The world didn't exist, just the ice, the moon, and the snow. Her head was only filled with symphony and the slice of blades. Then, voices? 

    She slowly opened her eyes and was no longer alone. Figures glided across the ice around her. Wisps of smoke and light, in human form. Fathers and sons. Mothers and daughters. Skating and laughing. Her concentration was broken, but her body was still moving at dangerous speeds and a bump in the ice sent her slamming into the ground. She hit so hard she cracked her head, vision went black, and her limp body slid into the snow. Snow fell and melted onto her heated face, and she laid there in the freezing powder until she could fight the nausea and dizziness back. She sat up slowly, with shaky breaths that floated around her. 

    There was nobody there. 

    She sat alone in the snow. As the clouds rolled in again, she took off her skates, and began the walk home. She never told anyone what happened, but she continued to return to the lake.