We Were Born To Lose

I screamed and screamed his name till my throat was sore, then I screamed his name some more. I was clad in high quality clothes with a very warm coat and I was freezing so I could only imagine how cold Jack must be in his flimsy jacket. I should’ve supplied him with a better one when I’d noticed him shivering during training with the knights. I kept calling for him and going farther and farther down the trail but it was dusk and the snow grew heavier and got caught on my eyelashes.
“JACK!” I screamed for the millionth time. The trees would never forget the name. The falling snow would never shake the sound from their delicate shapes. The forest would sing the name after hearing it so many times. I sighed hopelessly and continued. I’d search all night if I had to. I tried to call his name again but nothing but a strangled whisper came out. I needed water and I was sure my horse could use some too. I reluctantly got off the trail that led even deeper into the forrest and headed for a big lake nearby. I hopped off my horse when I arrived and let him drink. The trees didn’t cover this area to it was like the world was made of white. People think that snow falls quietly but it really doesn’t. If there’s enough of it then it makes a very quiet, almost crunching sound. I sighed as I dipped my freezing hand into the ice cold water and brought the liquid to my lips. It was so cold it burned and that’s when I heard it.
“A-Al-lex-x.” The sound could barely be heard. I shot up and spun around.
“JACK!” I called but there was no answer. I was afraid I’d imagined it but I knew it was real. My mind could never replicate his perfect voice. My imagination could never replicate his beautiful voice and that’s how I knew he was here. I scoured the trees around the lake but no one was there. Daylight had almost gone and I knew that the sun was staying as long as it could to help me find my Jack. It was shining that last little bit it had to help me.
“A-Ale-x.” That little voice called again. It was coming from the general direction of the water.
“Jack I know you’re cold and exhausted but I can’t see you, the snow is too thick. You have to speak up and tell me where you are.” I said calmly.
“Th-the w-water.”
I followed the sound of his voice closer to the lake and there he was. He was tied to a stump which was in about waist-deep water.
“JACK!” I screamed, throwing off my coat and charging into the water and boy it was cold. My skin screamed and burned at the frigidness but I ignored it and trudged to Jack. He was barely maintaining consciousness when I got to him. My hands were shaking so much from the chill it was hard to untie the ropes but I finally got them undone. Jack immediately fell at the loss of support but I caught him before his head could go under. I scooped him up and carried him out of the water and onto the shore and took my coat and pushed his arms through it while he struggled to sit upright. We’d left the water but it was like I’d just taken a piece of it with me because Jack was just as cold as it’s depths. His skin was icy and though it was dark, he was so pale it was if he was glowing.
“Come on, Jack.” I said, scooping him up and hauling him with me into my horse.
“Don’t fall asleep.” I said firmly though it was wasted breath because he’d already lost it. He leaned against me completely limp as I galloped us back to the castle. As soon as we got into the courtyard, I jumped off my horse and ran inside with Jack in my arms, I knew someone would take care of my horse. I burst into Mom’s chambers without knocking and lay Jack on the table.
“Alex what’s going-“ She asked, slightly ruffled but once she saw Jack she went right into her healing mindset.
“Alex go get me some hot water and towels right now.” I grabbed her the towels and set a pot of water over the fire to heat up. I came back to her and she had stripped Jack of his clothes and had one towel covering him and the other she was rubbing all over him to get the heat back into him. Now that I had a better look, his lips, nose, toes, and fingers were blue.
“He has hypothermia. I think you caught it before the frostbite got too bad but his breathing is very slow and shallow, his pulse is very weak, as you can see he has lost consciousness and is white as snow.” She explained whilst continuing to rub him.
“Will he make it?” I asked, removing the pot and bringing her the water.
“Most likely.” She said though her words were hesitant. She saturated the towels in the water and placed them on his body. Whenever they started to get warm, she’d dip them in the water to make them hot again. She had to rewarm the towels frequently at first since Jack’s body was sucking up the heat but eventually he started to get warmer and his skin went from blue to red. His breathing got heavier and he started shivering again which Mom said was a very good thing because that meant that his body was trying to warm itself up as opposed to shutting down.
“You’re okay Jack.” I whispered into his ear. “You’ll be alright.”

Notes

Title cred: So Cold by Ben Cocks

this song has helped me a lot. It's so beautiful and comforting and sad and I encourage you all to listen to it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ga94wVeFBac