Frozen. It's the only thing I can feel. My eyes seem to be crusted over like I've slept for a month non stop. Gently rubbing my eyes to release the hold on them, I look around without a clue where I am or why I'm here. Glancing to the side, I notice Dean curled up taking a nap.
I start to sit up when the pain hits. Just like that, it all came crashing back. The storm, Dean, the race for safety and the wreck. Falling to my hands and knees beside him, I start to pull the blanket away in a fumbled attempt to make sure he was ok. That I had not hurt him.
With the first pull his eyes popped open and his swiveled my way. As soon as recognition hit, he threw his arms around me holding on tight.
"Mom! I thought you would never wake up! I was so scared!"
"It's ok. I'm fine now baby. Are you hurt? Where are we?"
He then proceeded to explain what happened after I blacked out. I have to say, my son showed some intelligent survival skills. He's more resourceful than I gave him credit for. No doubt in my mind that I would have frozen to death had he not acted so quickly.
Letting him go, I stood up and looked around. We had to act quickly if we were to beat this storm, and if Dean had not given up on me, I certainly was not going to give up hope on him.
"Look around, see can you spot anything we can use. Anything at all ", I told him
"I already did. I have a few waters left behind and a few food items. Oh, there was a truck in the garage, but I haven't found the keys yet."
With renewed hope at the prospect of transportation, I threw myself into fight mode, ripping the house to shreds in search of these elusive keys. Unfortunately, it came up fruitless. No keys, no bikes, not even so much as a skateboard...not that such item would do use any good anyway.
"Look Dean, I know it seems unbearable, but we can do this...together. Gather as many coats as you can put on. We're going to have to make a run for it. If I can do it, I know you can."
With a look of defeat, he sprinted up the stairs in hopes of gathering enough to help us survive. As I glance out the front window, my hope diminishes a flicker, as I realize the snow and ice are so thick they will probably reach our knees by now.
Carrying the treasures he has found, Dean brings me an armload to apply to myself while he don's his own. With one last fleeting look at each other, we turn to the door to face what will no doubt be the hardest journey of our lives...together.