footprints to the future

Snow.
Thick brush.
Footprints.
Heading up a hill, feet crunching in the snow.
Brushing a scarf out of a face.
Avoiding the areas where a cat had killed something recently,
blood on the snow like bright-red tears.
Almost up now,
boots crushing through the snow,
face blushing with cold but not turning away.
Passing a house with warm lights in the windows, 
welcoming,
happy.
Leaving them behind.
Bushwhacking up a hill,
pushing through the difficulties 
and reaching the top of a hill.
Unbunttoning a coat,
placing it on top of the snow,
sitting on it.
Staring out at the world,
snow-covered hills,
sad-looking, dead bushes and sticks,
giant pines unaffected by the cold.
Blinking hard.
Crying.
Breaking inside from the pain of past and present.
But pushing past.
Pushing a body to stand 
and walk,
almost breaking
but pushing a self 
to take the first step,
down the hill
and into the future.