A Leaking Ceiling In The Cold
Water dripped from a crack in the overhead wooden beam directly onto the floor.
An elderly woman lay under a thick blanket, her eyes fixed on the wet timber ceiling above her bed.
Her husband sat on a wooden stool beside her mattress, holding her frail right hand between both of his hands.
He patted her knuckles gently, leaning close to her pillow as she pointed up toward the dripping ceiling.
He stood up from his seat, pulled his dark wool sweater down over his waist, and picked up a metal bucket near the hearth.
He stepped through the heavy wooden entryway onto the exterior porch.
Cold mountain air blew across the wooden deck as snow began falling from the overcast sky.
Gray clouds rested low against the sharp white peaks in the distance behind the timber cabin.
He dropped to his knees in the deep snow pack near the edge of the building.
He plunged his bare hands into the white drift, scooping away the top layer to reach the wet soil underneath.
He scooped up large clumps of brown mud, holding the wet earth securely in his hands.
Climbing up onto the slanted roof structure, he pressed the damp mud into the gaps between the weather-worn shingles.
He smoothed the thick earth over the broken wood with both palms until the leak was completely sealed against the storm.
Leaving For The Forest
He climbed down from the roof and wiped his dirty hands on his dark trousers.
Back inside the cabin, his wife watched him from her bed as he walked across the wooden floorboards.
He knelt beside her pillow, placing his hands against the sides of her face as he spoke quietly to her.
She looked up into his eyes, nodding slowly as she rested her head against his touch.
He reached down to the floor, picked up a heavy leather tool bag by its handle, and walked toward the door.
He lifted the iron latch, pulled open the wooden door, and stepped out into the falling snow.
His boots sank into the deep white drifts as he walked away from the cabin toward the treeline.
Tall pine trees covered in heavy snow towered above him as he moved deeper into the woods.
A Snowslide Hits The Cabin
He paused along the forest trail and turned around to check on the cabin behind him.
A massive bank of snow slid down from the slope above, burying the small wooden house beneath a massive white mound.
His jaw dropped open, and his eyes widened in horror as the snow swallowed the building whole.
He dropped the leather tool bag into the snow next to his boots.
He turned around and ran back toward the cabin, lifting his knees high to push through the heavy drifts.
He dropped to his knees right in front of the buried doorway, digging into the packed ice with his bare fingers.
Chunks of frozen snow flew behind him as he scooped massive handfuls out of the way.
He pressed his fingertips against the timber doorframe, scraping away ice until the latch emerged.
He grabbed the iron handle, pulled hard against the heavy weight of the snow, and yanked the door open.
Reunited In The Warmth
He stumbled through the doorway and fell to his knees next to her bed.
He reached across the blanket, pulling her up into his arms and pressing her close to his sweater.
She rested her chin against his shoulder, tears spilling down her wrinkled cheeks as she held onto his collar.
He cupped the back of her head with his hand, pulling her head closer against his neck.
Tears rolled down his white beard as he squeezed her tightly against his chest.
They held each other tightly on the edge of the bed as snow drifted quietly through the open doorway into the cabin.
Send this story to someone who believes in true love and devotion.