Mom and Dad are shouting at each other. Ivana is gone. We’re standing in the cold. My clothing is soaked.
“Why, how did she get away? She was right there! Why weren’t the dogs attached to the sled? Now we have one less pair of hands!” Mom yells, her breath freezing in the air.
I’m sitting on top of the sled, staring at them. My face is hot and tear-streaked. Ivana, my sister who is a year younger than me, 16 to be exact, has just run away. We were standing in the snow, simply taking a break for a minute, and rounding up our huskies the next, but she got a head start and we didn’t know where she went, so we never caught her.
Now, we’re outside of our cabin, praying she’ll come back. Me, because I love her. My parents because they want more hands to help around the house and village.
I can’t believe she just left. And I know it’s selfish of me to think these things, but the only reason I didn’t do anything was because of her. She kept me sane. Now, my emotions are out of control, and my mind is so jumbled that the only thing I can do is stare and make random noises like an injured dog.
“Tomorrow. We’ll look for her again tomorrow,” My dad says in a firm voice.
“What was that stupid child thinking?” My mom asks herself. “She’s so tiny she can barely do anything around the house, or maybe that’s just because she’s lazy, but either way, does she really think she can survive out there? She’ll die in a matter of hours!” She continues to speak to herself and berates Ivana.
Ivana. Sweet Ivana, who would care for my injuries when I worked too hard. Who would make dinner for me after a long day outside. Ivana, who would lend me a shoulder to cry on. Ivana, who would be there every moment I needed her. Ivana … home.
More tears spill down my cheeks, and I break into sobs, but Mom and Dad are too busy yelling to notice. The dogs are barking from all the noise, and my head is pounding. If she were here, she would rub my back and tell me everything was going to be okay. But she’s not.
“We need to leave now! How far will she get? Where was she even going?”
My dad ponders for a moment before speaking. “There’s a village that way, and further North is the capital. She might’ve been going to the capital,” He says, caressing his chin.
“Then we’ll head there now,” Mom says. Dad looks at her, confused.
“No. The dogs don’t have the energy to go all that way, and our supplies aren’t packed yet," he argues. My mom stares daggers at him, but I can tell she knows he’s right.
“Fine. Tomorrow at the crack of dawn,” She finally agrees. My dad nods, leading the dogs to their hut. Mom walks in, leaving me all alone with my thoughts. I stand right outside the door, trying to move my hand to the doorknob, but failing. My body won’t cooperate with my brain.
After who knows how long, my hand finally reaches for the doorknob, and I’m met with the aroma of stew-filled warm air. My heart sinks when I remember Ivana won’t be joining us. Will she ever be back to share a meal? How long will she last out there? Is she in pain? Was I not enough for her to stay? I rack my brain for answers that I can’t come up with, causing my headache to get worse.
I trudge toward my room, not having an appetite.
“Where are you going, honey?” Mom asks as if this is the most normal night ever.
I stop in my tracks. “I’m not hungry,” I say, my throat sore from crying.
Mom sighs, and I’m guessing she rolled her eyes too, though I’m turned around so I can’t see. “Come on. Was she really that important? All she was good for was a few simple and easy jobs!” She shuffles her feet.
I take a sharp breath and shake my head. “Yes. She is important. Just not to you.” I continue to walk to my room, ignoring my mom’s screeches and opening the cool metal handle. I slam my door and sink into my bed.
That’s when I get the best idea in the world. Okay, that might be overkill, but … the best idea I’ve ever come up with.
Later that night, after Mom and Dad packed the sled and went to sleep, I sneak out of the house, completely layered up. I close the door as quietly as possible, and my feet sink into the snow as I make my way to the dog’s hut. I open the door, and the dogs stir, thankfully not alarmed. I quietly attach them to the sled and lead them outside before climbing on myself.
We take off into the night, and the frigid wind bites at my skin. Here begins my journey to the capital to find my sister. I’m not sure about my plan after that, but we’ll figure it out together.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRWctayu3Bh
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