RUNNING AWAY

he snow makes a satisfying crunch under my sneakers and cold fingers wrap around each limb, pressing the freezing air through my clothing. In the predawn darkness I see the vague impression of a road in the whiteness and decide to follow it. My crunching feet carry me closer and the impression coalesces. It is definitely a road, and it appears to be heading to the river. I wind down a series of switchbacks in the hillside, my mind bright