‘Did I ever tell you about the North Pole?’
‘Penguins? I always liked penguins. 99 penguins.’ She attempted a smile, but she was fading fast as I. This would be our last story.
‘No, that’s the South Pole. North Pole is big white polar bears and slippery fat seals with whiskers a foot long, all living in a flat white world stretched to the horizons. Nothing but ice.’
‘Ice sounds nice right about now. I’m tired of all the heat.’
The gold zippo tumbled out of her hand as she passed. I wondered if she always knew she never really needed it or all those matches. I focused on the smoldering reflection held on its base. There were no tears for me to shed as I pulled my knees to my chest, gripped Lea’s leg as hard as I could, and left my ruined body behind to join the winds forever.
16First t
