Day 492

You lost your dog last winter down by the river.
Daft little bugger had jumped right in before you could stop him.
He was so small the current swept him away like a leaf in a hurricane.
You never found his body, scoured every inch of the river past where he jumped for days too.

It was almost exactly one year before you thought to check the river's end.
Clingoe Lake froze over almost every winter, this time was no different.
According to the signs around the edge the translucent ice was thick enough to hold up to 180lbs.
You decided to walk out like you used to with your little companion before he died.

The ice cracked faintly underfoot like it generally did, no visible cracks though.
You only moved back when you could see white lines appear in front of you.
As you headed for shore you heard a faint skittering noise.
A familiar sound coming from below.

Through the milky white surface you saw four small paws pressed against ice.
You faintly saw a familiar and loving little face grinning up at you from the water.
He pawed at the ice, moved his mouth like he was barking but you heard nothing.
There were no air bubbles either.

You knelt down and he came running right to where your hands rested on the ice.
Nuzzling at them through the ice and dashing circles around you from below.
The ice was creaking loudly now, visible cracks grew deeper and closer.
As you went to stand it gave way, flipping you into the cold and sealing you underneath.

Now your days were filled with walks on the ice with your dog - from below the water of course.
Dying... hadn't hurt like it should have.
When the ice melted you went to the depths of the lake and slept with your small companion.
It didn't take many winters before someone dear to you found you under the ice and joined you.