The middle of winter, and the wind was howling, the icy was biting at Uzi's skin, she couldn't see three feet in front of her because of all the snow, and she's just crouched at the base of a tree, trying to keep herself as balled up as possible, anything to keep her fawn skin warm
Then the night came, and it got even colder, Uzi's skin was sheer white, every breath was hard to take, and every exhale sent her body shivering even more.
And then she spotted something - in the distance, a single white light, floating almost.
As the light drew nearer, Uzi began to realise who it is - Ghostie came back for her, Uzi never thought she'd see her face again.
"Hey pumpkin" said Ghostie, having to strain her voice a bit over the wind.
Uzi could barely smile her skin is so cold and tight, but she forced one through, her cracked lips white as paper.
Ghostie knelt down in front of her, and pulled her bag off her shoulder, plonking it down before her.
"I, uh, brought you some stuff" Ghostie began, rumaging through her bag, "but like hardly any of it fitted in here, so the rest is in the car"
Uzi just about managed to chuckle, and her small and damaged smile damn near brought tears to Ghostie's eyes.
Ghostie pulled a beanie out of her bag, a black one with a fluffy grey bobble on top.
"To keep your ears warm" said Ghostie as she hands it to Uzi.
Uzi took the beanie in her shaking hands, reaches up and gently pulled it over her head.
Then there was the unmistakable sound of wool ripping, as Uzi's antlers poked gently through the top.
Both Ghostie and Uzi fall about laughing, and it hurt so much to smile, or even laugh, but Uzi hadn't seen Ghostie smile like that in far too long a time .
"Come on, pumpkin, let's get you back to the car"
Ghostie stood up and slung the bag back onto her shoulder, stepping forward to Uzi, her arms outstretched.
Uzi looked at Ghostie with confusion, and continued to do so, right till Ghostie scooped Uzi up in her arms, it is quicker than walking, after all.
Uzi wrapped her hands around Ghostie's neck, clinging on half to stop herself falling and also to just feel Ghostie's skin beneath her fingers, skin that she has dreamt of caressing beneath her fingertips and feeling every bump and scrape of her love.
"It's lucky you're a light weight" joked Ghostie, a cheeky smile spreading across her face as she emerged from the forest towards her car.
"You rescue me from this blinding snow and this is how you talk to me" retorted Uzi, but she could never be mad at Ghostie.
The pair reach the car, and Ghostie gently stood Uzi on the ground, and opened the car door for her, bundling Uzi inside, into the warm.
Ghostie, closing the door, walked round to the other side and joined Uzi inside the car.
As the door thumped closed, the sounds of Uzi's shivering body and chattering teeth filled the car, and Ghostie reaches to turn the heaters on to warm Uzi and herself up.
Uzi's hands darted for the vents, feeling the hot air blast across her skin, an overjoyed sensation running down her spine as she sighed contentedly. Uzi glanced over at Ghostie, and she saw that Ghostie was just sitting, staring at her, a smile so wide it could be seen from space.
"Ghostie?" questioned Uzi, jokingly.
"I just....I dunno" begins Ghostie. "I cant believe that ... ah, forget it, its weird"
"Aw no, come on, tell me!" exclaimed Uzi, turning to face her love and take in the sight of her all over again.
Uzi laid a hand gently on Ghostie's knee, a small content smile forming on her lips.
"It's just....I never thought.... I mean..." stammered Ghostie.
"..what?" questioned Uzi, wanting to know what on earth Ghostie was going on about.
"...I never thought I'd....love...anyone.....asmuchasidoyou" rambled Ghostie, speeding through the last few words to force them out her mouth.
Uzi was silent for a minute, before removing her hand from Ghostie's knee.
Uzi reached her hand up towards Ghostie's face, gently placing her hand across Ghostie's jaw, and turning her head towards Uzi.
Uzi leaned across the car seat, bringing her face closer towards Ghostie's.
Bringing her lips onto Ghostie's, Uzi felt electricity coarse through her veins, she;d never felt a feeling like this, and not as intense as this for sure.
Ghostie's lips danced across hers, her hot breath sending small shocks onto Uzi's skin, and feeling Ghostie's pulse beneath her fingers gave Uzi extra reason to kiss Ghostie even more.
When they finally broke apart, both Uzi moved her hand from Ghostie's jaw to her shoulder, and looked directly into Ghostie's black eyes.
"Ghostie," said Uzi "you dont understand how much you've done for me. I never thought I'd even be alive today, let alone see another human again."
Uzi sank back into her seat. "When the forest burnt down, everyone was in sheer panic, they had no control, no direction, they were ashes within seconds."
Uzi just stared ahead, not focusing on anything; Ghostie could see that this was the first time Uzi had told anyone what she was about to tell her.
"The elders and the children went first, the fire took them easily. Every time we practised what we'd do when a fire came, we always had a plan: save as much as you can from your homes and then get to where you knew it was safe.
"But I.... I didn't." breathed Uzi, her voice barely a whisper, the painful memories straining in her throat.
"I was a coward; when the call went out, I scrambled to the highest tree I knew- no one else knew of it, it's right on the edge of the forest - and I sat on a branch and i watched everyone go, one by one. I heard them all, every scream, every cry, every wail, even the children, I- I didn't even try..."
Uzi began to weep silently, her tears running across her freckled skin and down her face.
Ghostie had said nothing this whole time, she knew she had to let Uzi talk it out, or else it was going to eat her alive.
Ghostie reached across to Uzi and pulled her into a hug, a great bear hug, tight enough that both could feel each other's heartbeats.
"You listen to me, Uzi" said Ghostie, into Uzi's shoulder, "I am never, ever going to let you go. Ever. You- you have done so much and no one could expect any more from you..."
Uzi pulled Ghostie in tighter, her silent tears now becoming racking sobs as she heard these beautiful words coming from the person she loved more than anyone and anything in the world.
"I love you so fucking much" sobbed Uzi, her tears pooling on Ghostie's jacket shoulder.
"I love you even fucking more" said Ghostie, feeling her makeup stream down her face.
They pulled apart and looked each other straight in the eyes, their love emanating around them.
Ghostie's mascara strewn face broke first, her laugh breaking the emotional silence she'd built up while Uzi talked.
Uzi smile as she saw Ghostie smile again; what an incredible smile it was.
"You a bit warmer now, then?" said Ghostie, seeing Uzi's antlers still poking through her hat.
"Yeah, thanks for that." said Uzi.
Uzi noticed Ghostie's hand resting on the arm rest, and she gently placed her hand on top of Ghostie's, gently interlocking their fingers together.
The warmth of the heaters had made Uzi feel a little sleepy, so she turned in her seat to face Ghostie.
"I love you, Ghostie." said Uzi, gently, already feeling herself fall asleep.
Ghostie didnt respond.
"Ghostie?"
All that Uzi got as a reply was a gentle snore, as Ghostie was already sound asleep, the warmth having taken it's toll on her.
Uzi just chucked to herself, and hunkered down in her seat to sleep.
Their hands stayed locked together the whole time they slept.
