Chapter 3
In early January, light strands of warm wind lay on the blackening crowded skating rink of San Francisco. Frozen lanterns and floodlights illuminated the ice red. The sun was slowly leaving. Leah skated better than Danny several times and couldn’t help laughing when she had to support his hand, which is why they skated infrequently, but always as a couple. The last rays of sunset. Snow in gold. Speckled cilia. Their mutual friend was staying at a coffee shop nearby, and therefore, in order not to catch a cold, they made a few more laps around the stadium. However, my hands still froze unruly. The blizzard that followed them straight brightened the winter evening, and cold stars flew before their eyes, winding pleasant sensations. The black radiance, as well as the white, penetrated into the very heart, merging with it in a unique, admiring look. The scarred skating rink was slipping away from under his feet faster and faster. The light of cars disappearing into the darkness, gently passed along the fence. The completely white crown of winter was presented in all its glory and romance. It was a separate, special form of love.
The night and frost were getting stronger, and it was time to leave. Tired feet touched the ice, pushing the shiny icicles in different directions. A knitted, white glove, tightly frozen, clutched a light lilac one on Leah’s hand. And then, finally looking around the rink, they began to look at each other. Eyes full of happiness, reminded of the warmth of a home bed. Hugs held them together as if there were no clothes. Danny took Leah to his shoulder, kissing the girl on the forehead and eyebrows.
– Thank you, just thank you for being there —
A smile stealthily spoke words of gratitude. Everything around blurred, was carried away far, far away, and dark clouds illuminated sweet dreams as if during the day, while the eyes got wet, and the hugs became even stronger than before. Unable to restrain herself, she bit into his lips touchingly, touching the whole neck with caresses and gently clasping his hair, saying thank you for every second. Supporting the bottom of her waist, Danny continued by kissing her hands. He loved it. And, as if once again strolling and trying to warm her, he applied his gentle kisses to her warm, small hands. And, she fell in love too. Again and again, pressing hot lips to the body with passion, never being afraid to fall in love with your ideal. Her face flushed in a small, searing embarrassment. And he remembered how the rowan tree turned red in the spring, and how it fell on the snow in winter. Through the blue shirt, her heart was beating so hard and almost whining, while her cute nose, slowly stroking his cheek,…
– Come on, I want to go to bed with you —
She looked at him with a straight, joyful look. In the white-marble snowfall, behind the eyes of her beloved, brighter and more beautiful than anything for her, Leah barely saw, unwittingly, and was completely surprised that she saw a scarlet umbrella. Both of them then plunged into thoughts about each other, and it became not a bit noticeable to them how the light tapping of skates brought a girl in a baggy, oversized coat closer to them. Velvety, flowery, it wasn’t long enough or loose enough to cover her short socks along with her yellow skates. The red, light gray fabric of the clothes suited her and was very noticeable
Angelic freckles shone on both sides of the black hood. Small droplets covered her slightly tanned face and lips. Dark brown eyes looked haughtily through several black strands, and the feeling was created that the girl was not inferior in her cold to winter, saying this, however, with some caution and with excitement holding out a bunch of keys.
A silver cross with a bracelet crossed the wrist line. The silver crackling of snowflakes turned into the inaudible ringing and fluttering of Christmas bells. The silver nails were cold in the wind. The heart became quieter and chose the shortest and warmest way home. Danny accepted his loss, and after that, under the light of orange lanterns, a brief acquaintance took place. Then the girl seemed nice and the old feeling could not be, she wanted to go back to the rink.
– Nice to meet you, Marcie —
The pink light gradually began to fade until it disappeared completely, spinning in the very center of the ice platform.
The couple headed to the alley of low fluffy Christmas trees that were planted near the skating rink building. The whitish city, closed with a black lid, took them into its arms. Pink shadows walked around, and it became more and more difficult to see something. Cars growled like hounds in bad weather, slipping past the eyes. A subdued, bleached light enveloped the streets and houses, located as close to each other as footsteps creaking in the snow.
For a moment, the light disappeared. Time has stopped, the unhurried flow of radiant grains of sand has subsided. The street was gone, as if they, along with Leah, had disappeared, the eye was able to cling to the last flash, but that’s all. It was as if the face of a stranger was heading towards them, raising her eyes haughtily, not holding out and not giving anything, and no emotion, at least somewhat alive.
But a new flash of light created everything again, giving shape to houses, and shadows depth, volume. When the lanterns opened like buds on trees, the blood in the veins spread with special force. The white, fragile road cast off the darkness. On the way home, there was only a small park to go through. The light no longer disappeared, but accompanied the walk with mixed feelings linking freedom and sadness, as nature connects light fluff with hard needles.
The crumbly snow broke the lanterns, brightened the young thin trees at the entrance to the park. Silence permeated everything. Ice froze on the apple grove, soaking into the crowns with poisonous juice. Such dumbness was very attractive, growing into gaping, refined sculptures better than those that a person could make. Dusty silver paths rose and fell, stretched out with rays and crossed, suddenly ending…