life to come

its cold.

its always so cold here.

the wind nips at my bare chest and legs. 

my feet are covered with layers of what used to be closed. hands too.

my waist wears a tarp that blows in the ever blowing wind. 

my body doesn't shiver anymore.

the wind is cold but i am warm.

this mountaintop can see over everything. 

for miles and miles all that can be seen is white nothingness. 

this is solace. 

this blistering cold and unbearably white place. this is peace.

this place of ultimate understanding.

this place of total compassion.

this place of nothingness.

this place of everything.

i retreat to my cave. a fire is burning softly. it warms me gently before i go off to hunt.

there is no more meat here and one must hunt. 

earn my keep.

my instincts take over.

stepping out onto my ledge, i look for any sign of movement.

i make my way down my perch, seeing my prey.

jagged stone dagger in my mouth, spear tied to my back, rope on my waist.

by the time my feet are greeted by the snow, my prey is closer than i anticipated.

he doesn't notice me yet. he will. i am too dark to blend in, unlike him.

but i stalk him. my light figure hardly makes a sound in the snow. 

i can't let him get too far ahead of me or i'll lose him. 

so i get closer. closer. and closer still.

the spear is in my hand. the wood is rough and splintering though it has been used many times before. 

my senses have heightened. 

the cold is blistering my feet as i steady them. my arms are heavy from fatigue. 

i lift the spear above my head and use my remaining strength to launch the weapon.

a red blot pierces the white nothingness. i've hit my target.

i run to meet my spear and use the dagger to finish my task.

dragging a two ton polar bear up the side of a mountain.

in my camp, while my dinner is cooked, i look on the cave walls. 

countless markings. days. months. years. i added another one to the wall and sat back in awe.

july fourth, 2026. its been thirteen years.