5 “Unforgiving Winter”

Five

Florence remembered it very well. It was December 2019 the snow fell gently, little by little, a soft blanket of white that draped the city in a serene tranquility. The air was intensely crisp and biting, a stark contrast to the warmth of the indoors. The streets, once bustling with life and cars, were now deserted due to the cold temperature and the surfaces slick with a thin layer of ice.

A lone figure emerged from a nearby building, their breath visible in the frigid air. They bundled up in a thick coat and scarf, their hands tucked deep into their pockets for warmth. As they stepped onto the icy pavement, their feet slipped slightly, sending a jolt of surprise through their body. With cautious steps, they navigated the treacherous terrain, their eyes scanning the ground for any hidden patches of black ice.

“Jesus Christ, Flo, hurry up!” Frederick exclaimed impatiently from downstairs. He was actually home for the winter break from his college and he was enjoying a temporary respite from his academic pursuits. The urgency in his voice was palpable as they were heading towards their grandmother’s home for Christmas. 

“I am coming!” Florence, who was still 16 back then, responded loudly. Her voice echoed from upstairs as she prepared to join her older brother who was always so annoyed when she would take a longer time to prepare. 

Florence could hear the clatter of dishes and could smell the aroma of freshly brewed coffee emanating from the kitchen, indicating that breakfast was almost ready as their mom was probably preparing everything, especially Melissa’s well-known carrot cake which was their grandmother’s favorite, while their dad, Lawrence, was reading the newspaper with his favorite camera next to his hand on the table. The anticipation of spending quality time with the whole family during the winter was comforting for everyone in their household.

Florence hastened her preparations to join everyone downstairs. “Sorry for the wait!”

“FINALLY. I thought you were never going to finish.” Frederick chided, his voice laced with a hint of exasperation. 

His comment was met with a playful retort from Florence, “Oh, hush. Just because you have been away most days in college, does not mean you are going to be extra bitchy.” Florence followed him into the kitchen slash dining area, where their mother was busy preparing breakfast and packing the carrot cake she freshly baked. 

Florence greeted her with a warm kiss on the cheek, offering a cheerful “Good morning.” Melissa returned the gesture with a smile towards her daughter. As Florence approached my father, she wrapped her arms around him from behind, greeting him with a heartfelt “Good morning” as well. While Florence exchanged pleasantries with her parents, Frederick had already claimed a seat at the table, eagerly awaiting breakfast.

Despite the warmth in their home, the city outside seemed to be frozen in time. The usually noisy traffic was replaced by a hushed silence, broken only by the occasional crunch of footsteps on the snow-covered sidewalks. The lights from the buildings cast long, eerie shadows, creating a ghostly atmosphere. Even though the cold and the treacherous conditions, there was a certain beauty to the snowy landscape. The world was transformed into a winter wonderland, a place of peace and quiet. As the figure walked through the streets, everyone could not help but feel a sense of wonder and awe at the power of nature.

The speeding red car, traveling in the opposite direction of the truck, had collided with the truck with such force that the impact was a deafening roar, shattering the tranquility of the night. The speeding red car, seemingly oblivious to the treacherous conditions, had slammed into the truck’s front at an alarming speed, the collision a violent spectacle of metal twisting and breaking. The force of the impact was so great that it sent shockwaves through the air, a testament to the devastating power of the collision.

The Emry family, their journey through the icy roads a delicate balancing act, was jolted by a sudden and violent impact. Their father, Lawrence, ever cautious behind the wheel, had maintained a safe distance from the cars ahead, a prudent measure given the treacherous weather conditions most especially with the slippery and icy streets. 

Yet, even if Lawrence kept his distance, the massive truck with steel rebars glinting ominously, loomed before them and out of control with screeching wheels. It was careening down the road at an excessive speed due to the speeding red car that hit its front. It was a menacing presence that seemed to defy the laws of physics.

“Lawrence watch out!! Watch out!!!” My mom cried out in panic.

Everything happened so fast that its cargo of steel rebars shifted and spilling, some steel rebars were even flying straight towards the car with Lawrence, Melissa, Frederick and Florence in it. Her father slammed on the brakes as fast as he could but it was too late since the icy road betrayed them. They were still sliding forward at a fast pace, a helpless victim of the unforgiving winter, as the truck was also slipping strongly towards them.

“Dad!!!” Florence yelled in horror.

The sudden impact propelled the family of four strongly forward with a force that sent Florence tumbling towards the dashboard. Her vision was a blur, a kaleidoscope of colors and shapes as soon as she hit her head strongly near her ear area. She could hear the loud screech of tires, and the panicked yell of her father, her mother and her older brother filled their car. Florence tried to focus, to make sense of the chaos while she tried to recover from what was happening at such a fast pace that she could not think at the moment.

Florence screamed in absolute horror as soon as she saw the scary steel rebars, sharp and deadly, flying through the air towards them. They were like missiles, aimed straight at Florence’s parents’ car and towards the third car which was next to them. Florence closed my eyes, a silent plea for safety. There was a deafening crash, a shattering sound that seemed to pierce her ears. Glass rained down, shards of broken windshield filling the air. She felt a searing pain, a sharp jolt that sent her tumbling.