The clouds were gone.
The sun was shining.
I said, “I know you’re there.”
I said, “Come out, come out, wherever you are.”
I said, “You can’t hide from me.”
I said, “This is a dream. I’m still dreaming.”
I was delirious.
I was hot.
I was cold.
I said, “Dad?”
But my father was dead and nothing but ash.
I went to the door.
I opened it.
Cool air washed over me.
I blinked against it.
I stepped out into the snow.
I barely felt it against my bare feet.
I walked away from the cabin.
I didn’t know where I was going. My skin thrummed.
I said, “Where are you?”
I laughed.
It came out sounding like a sob, choked and wet.
And then I saw him.
In the snow.
Behind the trees.
A white wolf. Black on his back and chest.
His eyes burned red.
He said chase me i love you chase me.
I said, “Daddy?” because I was just a little boy again, and my father, my father was there, and he was never going to leave me, he was never going to leave me again.
He ran.