The Winter Between Us

Chapter 3.

Chapter 3: The Arrival

I can’t stop shivering, not just from the cold, but from the heaviness that sits on my chest. I hug my knees tighter, pressing my cheek against them, trying to ground myself. My phone still clutched in my hand, I look at the screen, waiting for Milton’s call, his voice. I haven’t spoken to him much lately, but there’s something about his calmness that makes me feel like I won’t completely lose control.

The snowflakes are falling thick now, and I can barely see a few feet in front of me. The world is silent except for the occasional rustle of wind in the trees. My heart feels as frozen as the lake in front of me, unable to move or breathe.

I don’t know how long I’ve been sitting here, lost in my thoughts, when I hear the crunch of footsteps in the snow. My breath catches in my throat, and I quickly wipe my eyes. I’m not ready to face anyone, least of all Milton. I should’ve called him sooner, told him not to come. I’m not sure what I’m even doing here.

But before I can decide, I hear his voice, soft but clear. “Violet?”

I look up, my stomach turning as I see him standing there. His black jacket stands out in the pale light of the moon, his face shadowed but still somehow familiar, comforting. It’s strange how someone can become so familiar in such a short time. But in a way, Milton feels like the person I should’ve turned to sooner.

He doesn’t say anything else at first. He just stands there, his eyes locking with mine, waiting. It’s almost as if he’s giving me a chance to decide what I want to do.

Finally, I break the silence. “I didn’t think you’d come.”

He takes a few steps closer, his boots crunching in the snow with every movement. “Of course I did. You needed me.” His voice is gentle, but there’s an edge to it. I can hear the concern, the worry, in his tone.

I swallow hard, feeling the tears threatening to fall again. I want to hold them back, but it’s hard when everything feels so overwhelming. “I didn’t know where else to go,” I admit, my voice trembling.

“You could’ve come to me anytime,” Milton says, kneeling down in front of me. He’s close now, his dark eyes soft but insistent. “I’m here, Violet. I’ve always been here.”

I blink rapidly, trying to keep my composure. “Ben…” My voice cracks, and I hate that it does. “Ben doesn’t care about me anymore. He doesn’t care about us.”

“Hey.” Milton’s voice is firm, but kind, as he reaches out and gently takes my hand in his. “I’m not going to let you go through this alone. Not now, not ever.”

I glance down at our hands. His is warm, strong, and the contrast to my trembling fingers makes me feel even more fragile. He’s always been there for me, a constant, steady presence in my life, even when I didn’t realize it.

“Do you really think I’m doing the right thing?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper. “Leaving him? Walking away?”

Milton shakes his head, his thumb lightly brushing the back of my hand. “I can’t tell you what the right thing is for you, Violet. But I can tell you that you deserve more than what Ben’s giving you. You deserve someone who sees you, really sees you.”

I let out a shaky breath, the tears finally falling. I can’t hold them back anymore, and I don’t want to. “I just… I don’t know if I can do this. It hurts so much.”

“I know,” Milton says softly, his voice a comfort. “But you’re stronger than you think. You’ve always been.”

I lean forward then, wrapping my arms around him. I don’t care if it’s too soon or if it’s confusing. I just need someone to hold me right now. Milton doesn’t hesitate. He pulls me close, his arms wrapping around me with a sense of protectiveness that makes me feel safe.

We stay like that for a while, the snow falling around us, the world feeling distant. The only thing that matters is the warmth between us, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat against my ear. For a moment, I let myself believe that everything might be okay.

But then the silence breaks. I pull away from Milton, suddenly aware of how vulnerable I must look, sitting there in his arms. “I’m sorry,” I mutter, wiping my eyes. “I didn’t mean to…”

“You don’t have to apologize,” Milton says quickly, his eyes searching mine. “You’ve been through a lot. You need someone to lean on.”

I nod, trying to collect myself. “I don’t know what I’m doing. I feel so lost.”

“You’re not lost,” he says firmly, his voice low and reassuring. “You just need time to figure it out. And I’m not going anywhere. You’re not alone in this.”

I feel a surge of something in my chest—something that feels like hope, mixed with something else I can’t quite name. “Thank you,” I whisper, my heart thumping in my chest. “I don’t know how I’d get through this without you.”

Milton smiles, but it’s a soft, almost sad smile. “You’re stronger than you think, Violet. I’m just here to remind you of that.”

I smile back, feeling a warmth spread through me. It’s not a romantic smile—not yet, at least—but it’s something. And right now, something is enough.

After a moment, Milton pulls away, offering me his hand. “Come on,” he says gently. “Let’s get you out of the cold.”

I hesitate for a moment, but I take his hand. It feels natural, as if it’s something I’ve done a thousand times before. We walk back to the cabin together, his hand never leaving mine, the tension between us slowly dissipating. I can hear the laughter and music from inside, but it feels distant now, like it’s part of another world.

As we step inside, the warmth hits me, and for the first time in what feels like hours, I can breathe again. Milton leads me to the couch, where he sits beside me, his presence calming.

“I don’t want to go back to the party,” I admit, looking over at him. “Not yet.”

He nods. “You don’t have to. Stay here for as long as you need.”

I nod gratefully, pulling my knees up to my chest. “I just… I need some time. Some space to think.”

Milton doesn’t press me. He just sits beside me, his hand resting on the back of the couch, close enough that I can feel his warmth, but not too close to make me uncomfortable.

“You know, you never told me what you wanted to tell Ben,” Milton says after a long silence.

I glance at him, surprised by the question. “What do you mean?”

“The thing you wanted to tell him,” he says softly, his eyes searching mine. “Earlier, before… before everything.”

I bite my lip, my heart pounding at the memory of what I was about to say. “I… I was going to tell him that I’m pregnant,” I whisper, my voice barely audible. “But now… I don’t even know if it matters.”

For a moment, there’s nothing but silence between us. Then Milton’s hand gently rests on mine again. “It matters,” he says quietly, his voice full of sincerity. “It matters a lot.”

I look at him, surprised by the softness in his eyes. “What do you mean?”

Milton takes a deep breath. “Violet, you’re not alone in this. You never have been. And no matter what happens with Ben, I want you to know that you have me. I’ll always be here for you.”