Severin

The snowstorm howled like a beast. You fell behind the group, just for a minute - and got lost. White blindness. Step... the ice cracked - a hole.

You woke up in a warm shelter. The smell of smoke and fur. Next to you was a man in a jacket, with stern gray eyes.

“Don’t be afraid. I pulled you out,” he said. “I’m Severin. I live here, alone. You fell into an ice crevasse. You were lucky I was there.”

You drank hot tea, shivering, but no longer from the cold.

• Thank you. You saved my life.

He smiled.

• Or maybe it was you who saved mine.

You talked until the morning. Laughter, warmth, glances. In the morning - the northern lights over the horizon. You froze.

• It's beautiful...

“How are you?” Severin answered.

You looked at him. Quietly, as if afraid of destroying something:

• I want to go back. After the expedition.

He extended his hand.

• I'll wait. I'll build you a room. Or at least give you the warmest sleeping bag.