have to break in。 There was no other choice。 She
couldn't go back； and she couldn't stay here。
Packing her pockets with KLEENEX； she closed up the car。 She zipped the
parka all the way； pulled its hood over her wool hat； pushed her hands
into gloves； and set off。 She trudged as fast as she could through the
mounting snow； lifting one leg high； then the other。 Her muscles began
to ache。 Tucking her head deeper into the hood of her parka； she plodded
on。
Thirty minutes passed； then another fifteen。 Exhausted； she looked
around for something to rest against。 But all was white； lonely；
uninviting； and bleak。 Looking back； she saw nothing but her own
footsteps。 Looking ahead； she saw nothing at all。 She pushed on；
absolutely； positively refusing to believe that she may have taken the
wrong road。
Bone…weary and weak from coughing； she grew more frightened as the
minutes passed。 Signs of life were nonexistent。 The cabin had to be
somewhere。 For another half hour； she pushed herself forward； pausing
occasionally to blow her nose； huffing hoarsely at the exertion；
ignoring the heat on her cheeks。
Snow continued to fall； creating a fairyland that； to Anne's bleary
gaze； was nightmarishly grotesque。 She imagined being lost and freezing
to death。 The road had never been this long。
Her senses blurred black with the onset of night。 Dizzy；