A hesitant fragment of white, trembling as it descends from the chasm-like sky.

  Broken dark eyes, concealed behind shaking fingers.

  Chin scrapes against palm as a glimpse of red peeks out from between pressed lips.

  Waiting, searching tongue, carefully poised to attract the falling flakes.

  Tips of black hair glisten under flickering street lights, cold as ice, soft as cotton.

  Maybe wondering. Maybe thinking. Maybe breaking.

  Wet, footsteps, increasing in volume as they approach.

  A hesitant approach, chunky and stumbling.

  "A-Are you okay?"

  A half-nod, half-shake, hair fanning out, puff of breath.

  Dark denim shifting against chipped bench.

  "You sure?"

  A prolonged pause, a slow, foreboding shake.

  Tears chased out of eyes, curving against a pale cheek, tongue still outstretched.

  Careful shift of clothing, sudden blanket of warmth.

  Rigid shoulders, tensed in tired discomfort.

  Drawn in closer, wrapped around tighter, folds of sleeve at the elbow covering vision.

  A brief introduction, a name that pressed gently against welcoming ears.

  A question, followed by trembling silence.

  Cracked lips opening.

  Words tumbling out of a stranger's mouth, careful and trepidated, smooth syllables and sharp consonants, as the stranger holds a one-sided conversation well past midnight.

  Heart lifting thickly, slowly, as if trapped in syrup, tugged up by gentle sentences and meaningfully meaningless stories.

  The first catch is a delightful one: fat and full and cold, melting instantaneously.

  "Better now?"

  Lips part for cracking first words.

  "Yes. Thank you."

  "I'm glad."

  A smile infused with caramel, drawing forth a matching one.

  Snow crunches and weight shifts as the stranger, the savior, stands up, shooting a few syllables of farewell amidst silent protests.

  No. No, don't leave, don't leave...

  Dark figure retreating slowly, warmth drawing away, leaving a hunched figure feeling cold again.

  A falling sky, clouds tumbling down, heavens caving in with misery.

  Slowly rotating shoulders, a final glimpse of an angelic face.

  "I'll see you tomorrow?"

  Everything rebuilds itself; the leaves sway a little more musically, hope fills a weighed-down heart a little more.

  "I'll see you tomorrow."

  Last words, concealed in thought.

  Thank you.