Day 173

It's so cold outside.
You were on your way home after work and took your usual shortcut.
Somehow with the falling snow you had gotten lost, taken a wrong turn maybe?
Either way you weren't where you should be.

The street you had been walking along gave way to a field of white.
Turning back wasn't an option - the snow was falling too heavily to see anything.
Your only option was to keep warm and keep going, there must be a house nearby.

As evening set in you began to give up hope of finding anything in the stormy weather
you felt a kind of tug, a warmth drawing you left.
The further you walked the stronger the tugging sensation got.
You saw lights in the distance and ran towards them, eager to get out of the weather.

The house you approached looked to be the oldest you'd ever seen.
It wasn't standing so much as somehow not falling but it was shelter nonetheless.
The front door was slightly open so you reasoned that you could legally enter.
As your hand reaches towards the handle the door is flung wide open.

Your friend is standing there smiling.
They gesture for you to follow them, not responding to any of your questions.

The interior looks just as worn down as the exterior with no furniture in sight.
Your "friend" is inviting you down the stairs, towards the source of the warm pull.
Seems the stairs here aren't as decrepit as the rest of the house.

Something inside of you is afraid to go downstairs but your need for warmth is
overwhelming.

So you head down.
All the way down to the depths of the house with your "friend" leading you.

This house is old enough to have a boiler.
It's so warm.

You stand as close as you can get without stepping in.
Still not warm enough.
Must get closer.

Your "friend" opens the boiler's door and walks in.
They stick their head out, still smiling, and offer their hand.

It's so warm.

So very warm.