SNOWBOUND LOVERS

The windscreen wipers smacked against the snow. Ethan squinted, the streetlights flickering like the ones in a horror movie scene. He was late, with a familiar aching in his stomach. But then, a flash on the pavement caught his hazy gaze. Hera. His ex, in a red coat, extended his thumb into the blizzard. There's no car in sight.

A confusing urge, a tangled jumble of sorrow and lingering affection, caused him to slam on the brakes. The automobile skidded in a controlled spiral, ending up facing Hera. She beheld him with surprise in her big, snow-dusted eyes.

"Ethan?" Her voice was hardly audible over the wind.

He rolled down the window, the sting of cold air a pleasant surprise. "Stuck, are you?"

"Every taxi app says no thanks to this weather," she said, a hint of defiance in her voice. He knew her too well.

Offering a ride was an act of self-sabotage, ignoring the voice in his head urging him to continue driving. "Same way. Get in, or you'll be an ice sculpture in the morning.”

Hera paused, her attention shifting to the dashboard, where a half-empty bottle of whisky always sat during their carpool days. His stomach turned. Although he had denied it, she had a nagging sense.

"Look," he groaned, trying to sound lighthearted, "either freeze or get a not-so-princely ride."

The decision was apparent. Mumbling to herself, she climbed in, slamming the door with finality that reflected the closing of a chapter in their lives.

The silence inside the car was heavy, interrupted only by the repetitive thud of the wipers. The air was dense with unspoken words and the faint aroma of her vanilla perfume, which had once captivated him but now served as a bittersweet recollection.

Suddenly, the automobile jerked abruptly, its tires whirling against a wall of white. Ethan cursed as he white-knuckled the steering wheel. "Damn it, I didn't see that drift."

Hera turned around, her eyes sparkling. "Ethan, you were speeding! "In this weather?"

The rage in her voice ripped the frail thread of his equanimity. "Maybe if you hadn't spent the entire relationship nagging me, I wouldn't have needed to drink myself numb all the time!"

The words lingered in the air, weighty and accusatory. The automobile was silent again, with the only sound being the hiss of the malfunctioning heater. Shame boiled bitterly in Ethan's throat.

"That's not fair," Hera finally murmured, her tone softening. "You were unhappy, Ethan, but you never mentioned it. You simply shut down, buried yourself in work, and..." her voice drifted off.

He let out a fake laugh. "And the whisky, correct? "Like a bad cliché."

"It wasn't just about the whisky," she explained, her voice steely. "I wanted us to work, but I was scared." I'm afraid you'll abandon me like everyone else."

The tenderness in her voice pierced the wall he'd created around himself. "I wouldn't have," he answered gently, his voice tinged with sorrow and prior promises. "I just..." I didn't know how to be joyful, so I blamed you for it."

This time, the silence was softer and tinged with a hesitant understanding. They discussed the raw, messy portions of their relationship, rather than the wonderful times. Her desire for control, his destructive inclinations, and their incapacity to communicate.

As they talked, the snow piled up, burying the car. The towing company, phoned in exasperation, would not arrive for at least an hour.

"So," Ethan eventually replied, the strain in his shoulders relaxing. "What now?"

Hera gazed at him, a slight smile on her lips. "Well, are we stuck here? We might as well make the most of it.

The air between them was lighter, with the sting of the past replaced by a new understanding. They dug out the glass with a credit card, giggling as snowflakes fell on their faces. She told him about her new photographic project, and the spark in her eyes brought back a forgotten warmth in him. He told her about his plans to finally pursue his love of writing, and the fear was replaced with a renewed determination.

By the time the tow truck arrived, the snow had ceased, and stars twinkled dimly in a cloudless sky. As they stepped out of the car, the environment around them appeared a little brighter and less harsh.

Hera responded, "Thanks for the ride, Ethan," with a sincere smile.

"Anytime,"