Wood and Steam (WIP)

Those distant days... Do you remember? The depths of that winter, the starry night glowing silver and blue in it's unpolluted expanse, the grassy plains lit only but briefly in the headlights of the car, before being swallowed once more in the lonely sea of dark. The tall trees watching our little island of artificial light streaking across the earth.
And within, the heat up, our playlists blasting, our shoulders heaving from laughing. How I remember you, your eyes dazzling, your smile and smirk, your laughter, your enthusiasm, your company. The bounce of your head from side to side in rhythm of the beat. How the groove would have my hands tapping the wheel. Your cheeky little flirtations, your sultry little side-eyes. A cosy little hide-away of plastic and metal hurling down the highway in the dark winter night. Just us, with nowhere else we could be, but in each other's company.
And of course, those moments of quiet, as the hours of travel stretched on. My weary eyes, my tired form invigorated by the fluttering of my heart, as I see your peaceful form slanted against the car door, at rest, peaceful... Heavens, you were something.

And after many hours, the slow crunch of the wheel upon gravel, the headlights catching the particles swirling in the air, the starry night forming a black silhouette of everything upon the earth. How your dreary form would energise as you stepped outside, and saw our cabin before us, that sense of exploration ignited.

Taking the key, I watched you race ahead, my own arms occupied with our luggage, loading them up more and more as you climbed the old frigid wooden steps, Eyes darting to and fro, as your phone's light lit up the windows and the door before you. Back at the car, I slowly started hauling the luggage over, as you finished finicking with the lock, opening up the entry to the cabin, and disappearing into the void beyond.

And then my own eyes would squint, as you found the light switches within, and the sudden burst of light shot out from the cabin windows, arcing across the scattering of trees around us. Blinking, my vision adjusted, and I brought our material on in. Within, you had found the couches in the living room, and had flung yourself upon one, arms outstretched, flexing, and no doubt enjoying the ability to take up all the room you wanted, after so long tucked up inside the car. I finish my trip, and close the door on the outside night. With the slight click of the latch, my head turns, and appreciates the quiet peace you enjoy. Though, with all that sleep you got in the car, your energy reserves weren't depleted just yet. Like a cat finishing it's stretch, your fingers finish your flex, and then you bolt upright, eyeing your little dominion. My eyes meanwhile, drift about the room, seeing what there was to be done in this deep hour of night. It doesn't take long however, for the sounds of your exploration to distract me once again. Leaning my head over, I see that you had got to the cabin's most exquisite brick fireplace, and had hauled aside the metal grate and were inspecting the black, ashen remnants of some long old flame.

"Whew! That.. is a darn good fireplace. Can't wait to see the roaring flame that bad boy could get going. I think from what I read there was a stack of wood somewhere out back, under cover. I'll go and see what I can get." I say, As clutching the jangling keys in hand, I open up the door to the frigid winter night beyond, and leave you to it.