God, she’s beautiful. I hope she’s happy to see me.
Part of me thinks that she will be. Cora and I have always had a friendly, playful relationship, and on more than one occasion we’ve had meaningful conversations about our lives and pasts. I’ve always liked her, and I know that she’s always liked me.
And now that Marky and she are definitely over…
Motivated, I press my foot to the gas pedal, a little too eager to get to the cabin and it’s sexy new occupant.
7
Cora
Okay, the power has obviously gone out.
Just moments ago, the phone line died and every light in the house went out. Now, the cabin is ominously silent.
I chatter away to myself out loud, determined to keep the eerie darkness and its accompanying stillness at bay.
“Oh, it’s no big deal, Cora, outages happen all the time. You know there are big candles in the closet, there are lanterns in the pantry, and the matches are in the kitchen drawer.”
I carefully feel my way around the living room, hoping to find my way into the kitchen without stubbing a toe or tripping over the furniture. Fortunately, I came to this cabin a lot growing up, so even in the pitch black, I maneuver around the room without a problem.
I finally reach the kitchen and feel around the nearest drawer for matches. To my delight, I not only find the matches, but my groping hands also land on a box of tea-light candles.
“Jackpot!” Carefully feeling my way around, I place the little candles on the countertop and strike the match. Its sudden brilliance against the darkness nearly blinds me, but I steady my hand and light the first of the petite cylinders. Once I’ve lit three or four of them, I can almost see my way around the kitchen.
Using their soft light, I go to the pantry to search for the kerosene lantern. I finally feel its cold shape on the top shelf and pull it down. Quickly, I light the lantern and suddenly the cabin is much brighter.
Sighing with relief, I walk back over to the living room to test the landline again. There’s no tone on the other end, only silence.
“Okay, well, you’re in the middle of the woods with no working phone. But your mom does know where you are and the cabin is locked up, so don’t let you imagination run wild.” Satisfied with my little pep talk, I survey the room, wondering what to do now.
Involuntarily, I shiver.
“Oooh, it’s getting cold,” I mutter to myself. With the growing storm outside, the freezing night air is slowly seeping into the cabin. “I must have left a window open.” But I know it’s not true. It’s just that the mountains are cold this time of year and with this kind of torrential storm, the temperature has dropped suddenly.
I look down at my jeans and light t-shirt.
“First things first, let’s put on some warmer clothes.” I grab the lantern and make my way carefully up the wooden stairs to the bedroom where I put my duffel bag earlier. The lamp’s light hits the room brilliantly, and I’m pleased that I remembered where the little lantern was.
“Brrrr!” I squeal to myself. Hurriedly, I pull out a sweater and my thickest sweatpants from the duffel and strip to my underwear. I pull the thin sweater over my tousled hair and slip into the sweatpants. Dancing around so my feet don’t have to touch the cold floor for too long, I grab thick wool socks and slide them on.
Still too cold, I think as I realize that I can see my breath in the frigid air.
I grab another sweater, a thicker, cable knit one, and pull it over my current one. I smash a beanie on my head and decide to go snuggle on the couch, since I’ve already piled some blankets there.
Grabbing the lantern and another blanket from the bedroom, I head back to my cozy spot on the couch.
“Now what?” I ask myself.
Outside, a crash of lightning lights up the sky, followed by the growl of thunder. I hate to admit it, but I’m scared.
“Okay, let’s occupy the mind, then. What to think about, what to think about… your doomed relationship? The fact that someone asked you to marry him and then left you? How about all the weird confusing feelings you were having for his dad? Is that because Marky never paid enough attention to me or because I like the guy?”
Another roar of thunder rolls through, followed by even heavier rain now.
“Ugh, Cora. This isn’t helpful.” I shiver against the cold air, still chilly. “Okay, so let’s make a fire. That’ll take my mind off things.”
I grab the lantern and head back to the kitchen.
“I have matches but I need something to get the fire going,” I mumble as I search the cupboards. “Aha!” I pull out a bottle of lighter fluid from under the sink and head back to the living room with the items.