Life Is But A Brief Spring For Mortals Chapter 1

During our honeymoon, the car stopped at a rest area in the freezing Rockies. I headed straight for the restroom. When I came out, the SUV was gone.

I stood frozen, then called Elias. It took seven tries before he answered. “Chloe’s got severe altitude sickness and won’t stop vomiting. There’s no clinic here. I have to take her down the mountain now. Wait there or grab a cab into town.”

I looked around. Twelve thousand feet up, surrounded by snow peaks. No cabs, just a few freight trucks stopping for water. “Elias, you left me here alone?”

Silence. Then his voice, sharp. “Chloe introduced us. Shouldn’t we treat her well? Basic decency. Besides, she’s your best friend.”

“You’re overreacting. No wonder your parents divorced and neither wanted you.”

I didn’t argue. Ever since Chloe introduced us, I’d had no privacy. Movies? She came. Anniversary dinners? She sat nearby. Now, on our honeymoon, she showed up, too weak to stay, demanding to be taken down.

I hung up. My frozen finger scrolled through my contacts to a number I hadn’t dialed in two years. Julian.

“Sienna?” He sounded surprised.

“Julian, are you still leading mountain expeditions?”

“I’m at the high-pass rest stop. Can you pick me up?”

No hesitation. “Send your location. Thirty minutes.”

* * *

I hung up the phone and leaned against the freezing concrete wall of the restroom building.

The icy wind sliced through my collar, chilling me to the bone.

Slowly, I lost all feeling in my arms and legs.

My phone screen lit up.

A text from Elias.

"Call me when you get to town. Stop throwing a tantrum."

Immediately after, another message popped up.

"Chloe feels really guilty because of what you said on the phone earlier. Make sure you comfort her when you get here."

I stared at those two lines of text for a long time.

I didn't reply.

With a few taps of my frozen finger, I muted his notifications.

Half an hour later, a massive Ford Raptor aggressively pulled into the lot, stopping right in front of me.

The door swung open, and Julian stepped out in a heavy stride.

He was wearing a tactical winter jacket. His brow furrowed deeply as he looked at my lips, which had turned a violent shade of purple from the cold.

"Get in." He yanked the passenger door open.

I climbed into the massive truck.

The blasting heat instantly enveloped my shivering body.

Slowly, feeling began to return to my frozen fingers.

Julian handed me a steaming thermos of hot water and tossed a portable oxygen canister onto my lap.

"Why are you out here alone? Where's Elias?"

I wrapped both hands around the metal thermos, soaking in the heat.

"He had an emergency. He left first."

Julian let out a cold, sharp laugh but didn't press the issue.

"Where to?" He slammed his foot on the gas.

"Town," I said. "My luggage is still in his car."

The heavy truck tore down the winding mountain road.

I leaned back against the leather seat, watching the snow-covered pines blur past the window.

Soft indie folk music played from the speakers.

My phone rested quietly in my pocket.

No calls. Not a single new message.

It was peaceful.

Elias didn't care if I could actually find a ride.

He was absolutely certain I would obediently follow him.

Just like the countless times before. All he had to do was wave his hand, and I would stay exactly where he left me, waiting.

But this time, he miscalculated.

I wasn't waiting anymore.