Footprints in the Snow

While on his way to Megan’s house, Rick had to pull over the car. He was dizzy with nervousness and fear. “Come on, Rick. You know what you’re doing. This girl is awesome. You can do this, man. It’s just a date.” He sits in attempting to recover from anxiety, takes a few deep breaths, and then puts the car in drive. 1

As he walked to the door, an odd feeling came over him. His nervousness subsided and began to grow confident. While walking down the snow bordered narrow walkway to her door, he felt as if he was unstoppable and he felt comfortable where he was. This feeling did not desist when she came to the front door and greeted him halfway down the walkway. He felt so comfortable when she hugged him. He was so happy with his arms around her, what made him happier was that he knew that she felt the same.2

The streetlights of downtown glowed in the darkness. The only pedestrians that pranced along the street were couples huddled together trying to get from one store to another. Rick and Megan didn’t seem to mind the cold. They walked parallel talking about their futures. It seemed almost like they were just friends, but each of their hearts felt more than that. 3

Rick just enjoyed seeing Megan talk, “I don’t know, it just seems like my future is all planned out. I mean I got into Villanova, I’m going to be Pre-Med there, then I’m going to become a doctor. My dad’s a surgeon, my mom’s a nurse, and I’m just going to become another one of them.” 4

“Do you want to be a doctor?” 5

“Well, yeah. I just…” She sighs for a moment. “I just wish there was surprise in my life. It seems like everything’s planned out. I can see my whole future and it’s not bad, but I just wish I didn’t see it.” 6

Rick stops and gazes over the courtyard at a gazebo. Megan stops walking as well and grows confused, “What?” Rick doesn’t say anything and all of a sudden a thought hits him and he takes off his shoes. “Rick, what are you doing?” He doesn’t respond and then takes off his socks as well. 7

“Rick, what is-” 8

“Wait. Don’t say anything. Just do as I do.” Rick then begins to walk onto the snow in his bare feet. 9

“Rick! What the hell are you-” 10

“You said you wanted excitement in your life. You wanted something unexpected. Well, here’s your chance. Something no one else has done before. Now I bet you didn’t see this coming. Come on.” 11

“You’re crazy. It’s freezing.” 12

“That’s the point. It’s supposed to be freezing. That’s what makes it crazy. And it’s supposed to be crazy. That’s what makes it unexpected.” 13

“Most of my first dates consist of dinner and a movie.” 14

“Well, you just said you were sick of seeing the future. I’m not leaving this spot. So either make yourself a crazy memory or give my toes frost bite and continue living your prediction.”15

She smiles. Rick almost lost his footing at her beauty. It was just a small smirk while her eyes told him she’s going for it. A few strands of hair brush past her left eye, while she takes off her shoes. Rick just stands there and smiles. He convinced her to do something crazy, but in the end it was up to her. For this action only, he was already falling for her. She first steps onto the snow, her reaction was a gasp. The next few were hardly pretty either. Finally she began to grow comfortable in the grounds icy clutches. Her steps went from being on her tiptoes to regular steps that she used to walk up to Rick.16

The two pairs of bare feet met each other in the snow, facing one another. There were no lights in the courtyard. Rick could only make out her figure. He couldn’t see her beautiful brown eyes. He couldn’t see the smirk he loved so much. He couldn’t see the way her hair drifted across her face. None of that mattered though, because he knew she was there, and the way she looked wouldn’t change anything he felt at that time. Megan cautiously raises her arms and wraps them around his shoulders. Rick pulls her in and while cold in the snow, they share a kiss. Megan then looks down, putting her head on his shoulder and whispering in his ear, “Now I bet you didn’t see that coming.” Rick never saw any of this coming, but he enjoyed what he now saw, even in the darkness.17