She looks ahead. Sees a road not yet traveled and wonders where it leads. The brisk wind bites at her chapped lips as she walks alone.

She stops and looks behind. Sees a road well traveled and wonders how she got here. The frigid air turns white with each solitary breathe she exhales.

Silence responds loudly.

She thinks she'll be happy when she gets there, wherever it is. Maybe he'll be there, waiting for her. Maybe she'll meet him along the way. Maybe she passed him miles ago and never noticed him because she was too lost in her own thoughts, as she is now. The bitter cold doesn't relent as she ponders her journey.

She can't go back. No such thing as do over in the real world. Once you've visited hell, you're name remains there permanently in the guest book. If you're lucky. Better than being on the resident list. Too hot there. A light snow falls and a single set of footprints begins trailing her relentlessly.

No choice but to go forward. But which way? And how much farther? She shivers and rubs her arms, wishes briefly that she had a man to do this for her, and realizes how damn cold it is in this neck of the woods.

She sighs. Nobody hears it. She continues on her way and wonders if the coldness is on this back country road or within her heart. The plumes of breathe are visible behind her, like the sole set of boot tracks in the new fallen snow. Momentary traces of her existence, yet soon to disappear. They will not remember her. Who will?

Silence answers loudly again.

She knows not where the road ends. Could be right around the next corner or over the next hill. Sure be a shame to get there before she found him, found happiness. But she's not where she wants to be yet. No time to stop and smell the roses. Plus they're gone, frozen out of sight temporarily. They'll bloom again in the spring. Perhaps like her heart. Someday, up the road a little maybe.

She figures she's at the half way point now. Long journey. She hopes it gets longer. She hopes even more that when she gets where she wants to go, she won't look back and see only one set of footprints in the snow.

Silence accompanies her for now, impermeable to the arctic air, her faithful friend. The journey continues. Alone. Cold.