I would choose you

Departure

The dining hall was nearly empty when we arrived for a late breakfast. The candles from Christmas dinner still sat in the windows, half-burned, dripping wax onto the sills like they had melted the hours away in our absence.

I had barely poured a cup of tea when Nicole, standing by the door, froze.

“There’s a note,” she said.

We gathered around it. A piece of paper taped hastily to the wood, written in the looping, tired scrawl of one of the staff:

“Train services resumed as of this morning. Limited routes. Please inquire at the front office if you plan to leave.”

For a moment, no one said anything. Just looked at one another, like the news hadn’t quite reached our minds yet. Then Maria broke the silence.

“So... does that mean we’re supposed to go home now?”

I shrugged, blowing into my tea. “I’m definitely not. It would take three days just to reach my grandparents’ place. There’s only six days left until classes start again, it wouldn’t make any sense.”

Nicole nodded. “My parents are still in Austria. The house is locked, and I’m not flying across the continent for one dinner. I’ll stay.”

Abraham leaned back in his chair. “Same here.”

Then Arthur sat up straighter. His eyes lit up, that mischief we’d come to recognize blooming instantly.

“Wait, what if we didn’t stay here?”

We all looked at him.

“I mean,” he continued, “what if we all went to my lake house?”

The silence that followed was more curious than doubtful.

“It’s only about six hours by train. My family isn’t using it this week. It’s warm, it’s big, it has a fireplace. We could go skiing.”

Hannah blinked. “Skiing?”

Arthur grinned. “Yes, I have blades. Old ones and not very sharp, but I'm sure it'll be fun.”

I looked around the table.

“Well what are the alternatives?” I said. “Being locked in this gray mausoleum for another week?”

There were chuckles of agreement.

“I’ll go,” said Nicole.

“Me too,” added Maria. “Why not.”

Abraham shrugged. “I’m in.”

Arthur clapped his hands together. “Perfect. Pack your warmest clothes. We leave by three.”

Back in our room, I tossed a few sweaters into my suitcase while Hannah folded clothes methodically on her bed. She seemed lighter than she had the night before, but quieter too.

“What do you think about the idea?” I asked, not looking up.

“I’m glad to leave this place,” she said.

I laughed. “Yeah, I get that. Same halls, same windows, same miserable sky.”

She shook her head. “No, it’s not that.”

I paused, glanced over.

“Elaborate?”

Hannah hesitated, then sat on the edge of her bed. She looked down at her hands.

“Emiliano left this morning. Early, before breakfast. I haven’t seen him since... you know.”

I nodded slowly.

She smiled, faintly. “I don’t know what I expected. A letter? A look? Maybe nothing. But the idea of staying here and walking past that door every day just feels like... no. I need a distraction.”

I zipped my bag shut. “Then let’s go get distracted.”

She looked up and smiled, this time with more light. “It’s going to be fun, isn’t it?”

“It better be. Or I’m demanding my holiday back.”

By three o’clock, we all gathered at the main entrance, bundled in scarves, gloves, coats of varying quality and style. Nicole wore a thick green coat with toggles, and her breath came out in soft clouds. Maria had a brown duffle that nearly swallowed her. August had no hat, and Arthur wore a shearling jacket far too nice for public transport.

Arthur took one look at us all and shook his head.

“These are your warmest clothes?” he said, aghast. “I’ll have to dress all of you myself. Shameful.”

“We didn’t come from the North Pole,” I replied.

“No,” he said, lifting his bag, “but you will look like you did by tomorrow.”

The shuttle pulled up just then, snow still thick along the drive, but manageable now that the sun had melted the worst of the ice. The driver helped us put the pile of bags and winter gear inside.

We climbed in, finding seats among old duffels and awkward laughter.

Something new had started, even the air felt different. Finally we were going to a new place, somewhere with firelight and maybe reedom.