The icy wind howled across the frozen landscape, the distant sound of cracking ice echoing in Charity's ears as she struggled through the snow. The limo crash had sent her heart racing, but she was already thinking of the others—Vanessa especially. The limo had plunged off the road, skidding dangerously toward the frozen lake. They were lucky it hadn’t been worse. But now, the lake itself was an even bigger threat.
Charity had been the first to scramble out of the wreckage, the cold biting at her skin as she raced toward the shore. She had reached solid ground first and immediately turned back to help the others. The others were still trying to climb out, but Vanessa’s face had stayed with Charity’s mind. Her ex was always the last to give up—tough as nails, never showing fear—but Charity knew Vanessa, and she could see it now, the fear that threatened to overtake her.
Vanessa was still trapped, struggling to open the door. With a final heave, she managed to get it open and crawl out, breath visible in the freezing air, her legs shaky from the shock. Her eyes darted around, her gaze locking with Charity’s across the ice. Charity waved, beckoning her to hurry.
Vanessa stood still for a moment, her legs frozen in place as the reality of the situation hit. The ice beneath them was thin and treacherous, cracking in places with each shift of weight. Vanessa swallowed hard. She knew the ice was not safe, not by a long shot. Every part of her screamed to stay where she was, to wait for help, but she knew that wasn’t an option.
"Vanessa! You’ve got this!" Charity's voice rang out across the ice, louder than the wind. "It’s just you and me now. You can make it, just come to me. One step at a time."
Vanessa’s heart raced, the ice beneath her feet groaning with every small shift. The sound sent her heart into overdrive. She took a step, then another, her breath quickening. The ice creaked beneath her weight, making her freeze in place. She looked across to Charity, her face a picture of encouragement. That fierce, unrelenting look in Charity’s eyes made Vanessa's chest tighten.
"Keep going, V! You’re not alone!" Charity shouted, her voice full of warmth and conviction. "You’re so close. Don’t stop now!"
With trembling hands, Vanessa gripped the ice with all the strength she could muster, her legs wobbling beneath her as she took another step forward. The ice cracked louder, but she couldn’t stop. Every step felt like a leap of faith. Charity had already made it across, a safe distance away, but it wasn’t just the distance that kept Vanessa going—it was the belief in Charity’s voice, in the unwavering trust that they had shared for so long, even when things were hard.
“Vanessa!” Charity called again, her arms outstretched, her face breaking into a grin. “I’m right here, just keep coming! We’re almost there!”
Vanessa’s breath hitched in her throat. She didn’t know how much longer she could keep moving, but Charity’s words anchored her, like a lifeline pulling her closer. The ice groaned beneath her feet again, but she pushed forward, focusing on the safe haven that awaited her on the other side.
Finally, after what felt like a lifetime, Vanessa reached the edge of the ice. As she stumbled, slipping on the frozen ground, Charity was there—arms wide open, ready to catch her. Vanessa fell into Charity’s arms with a sigh of relief, her knees giving out as the safety of Charity’s embrace washed over her.
"Got you," Charity whispered, holding her close. "I told you, I wasn’t going to let anything happen to you."
Vanessa’s chest heaved with exhaustion, but she could hardly stop the tears that formed at the corners of her eyes. "I didn’t think I was going to make it," she admitted softly, leaning into Charity’s warmth.
"You always make it," Charity replied, brushing a strand of wet hair from Vanessa’s face. "And so do I. We’ve been through worse, haven’t we?"
Vanessa nodded, grateful beyond words. There had been so much between them, so much that had torn them apart, but in that moment, nothing else mattered. Charity was here. They were safe. And for now, that was enough.
As they stood together, the sound of cracking ice faded, and the storm clouds above seemed to part just slightly. Maybe it was the cold, or maybe it was the way Charity was holding her, but for the first time in a long time, Vanessa allowed herself to feel something she hadn’t in ages—hope.