Page 3 of My Starry Valentine

I’ll give God one thing… He knew what He was doing when he invented Colorado mountain highs.

Chapter Two

LUNA

“I’m going wherever you’re going,” I reply emphatically, looking at my best friend, Naomi. We’ve spent the last week in Ouray, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and exploring the quaint town, only to have everything fall apart in one fateful moment.

Three search and rescue workers with Ouray Mountain Rescue embroidered on their beanies and coats kneel over my bestie, stabilizing and wrapping her catastrophically injured ankle.

Everything happened in the blink of an eye. She went down wrong in a field of icy boulders, her ankle collapsing outward. Instead of the bindings on her skis or the blades giving way, her bones and joint did.

“No, actually, you’re going to return to your vehicle and meet us at the ER at Montrose Regional Health,” a salt-and-pepper bearded paramedic directs, narrowing his eyes at me. He introduced himself earlier as Peter…or was it Philip? Something with a “P.” I can’t think straight, thanks to the adrenaline coursing through my body.

“Montrose? But isn’t that like an hour from here?” I pant.

“Forty-five minutes. That said, the weather’s taking a turn for the worse, so we suggest driving slowly and carefully. We don’t need you two bunking at the hospital.”

I squeeze Naomi’s fingers, looking at her drained face and blue-tinged lips. She fell two hours ago. Fortunately, it was sunny this afternoon, and far easier to stay warm than the last half hour or so. In that span, the wind picked up, and the sky darkened. In the distance, nature’s fury sits poised, ready to unleash its mighty, icy fury.

The blonde, with a heart-shaped face and no-nonsense accent straight out of Oklahoma, urges, “He’s right, Luna. It makes more sense for you to get the car and head back into town. That way, you can check out of the inn, grab our luggage, and handle everything we need to do because I messed up our trip.”

I shake my head emphatically, shushing her. “You didn’t mess up anything. It’s my fault for talking you into skiing today.”

The mountain rescue guy who piped in before clears his throat, grumbling, “It’s nobody’s fault. Engaging in winter recreation in Ouray comes with natural risks. Ankle breaks are a common injury this time of year.”

Another fat, hot tear slides down my cheek, and my reaction embarrasses me. Naomi is holding up better than me, and she’s the one with the horrible injury.

“I’m not in any pain at the moment,” she reassures, worrying her thick bottom lip. “And I can’t think of a better place to fracture some bones…enveloped in the equivalent of a giant ice pack.”

My stomach tightens, remembering the sickening snap and her impossible attempts to stand up. She said, “There’s no strength in the joint, as if putting pressure on it will blow it out.” I’ll never forget the moment she removed her boot, and I got my first real visual of the damage… The sight will haunt me to my dying day, and that’s when I called emergency services.

I sniffle, trying to laugh half-heartedly. “Yeah, I guess you have a point.”

Peter or Philip clears his throat, ordering, “Alright, ladies, time to say your goodbyes. Ms. Solace, are you good to get back to your car? It’s just a half mile in that direction.” He points.

The search and rescue crew sped to us in a LiteTrax with high ground clearance that only fits four people. Besides, I’m nearly at the trailhead, and it’s well-trafficked and clearly marked, so getting back to where we parked is a no-brainer.

“Can you take her skis, or should I try to manage them?”

The man smiles grimly. We’ve got her skis, backpack, and gear. You worry about getting yourself safely off this mountain.”

I nod, feeling my heart pound against my ribs. “I can do that.”

Naomi laughs weakly. “Are you sure, babe? Because, as I remember, you used to get lost in the middle school hallway, and there were only one hundred and fifty students in the whole place.”

The corners of my mouth turn down. “I did a lot of daydreaming in middle school.”

“True.” She reaches for my hand, squeezing it again. “Alright then. I’ll see you later at the hospital.”

“You’re the bravest person I know,” I say as the men hoist her stretcher, beelining for the LiteTrax, where she carefully dismounts and takes a seat. “See you soon. Thank you, Mountain Rescue!”

The men nod, and I watch the vehicle speed away in a cloud of snow, brokenhearted. I wince, inwardly willing Naomi’s journey to the hospital will go as smoothly as possible.

My eyes flutter to the angry clouds drawing closer by the minute. The air feels thick and ominous, and the wind’s angry whistling has replaced the idyllic chirping of winter birds. If coldcould be an odor, it pervades my senses, pure, sterile, and angry, riding the insistent wind that slaps my cheeks.

Thankfully, I don’t have to ski into the wind. Instead, it pushes me from the back, helping me cover the frozen distance to my white 2014 Subaru Outback at record pace. My knees shake as the adrenaline from earlier bottoms out, coupled with low blood sugar. I feel dehydrated, but the chill in the air and the queasiness of my roiling stomach push me forward without stopping for water.

I scold myself mentally to take better care of myself as my SUV comes into view. All I can think about is Naomi and getting to the hospital in Montrose.

---