The icy wind nipped at my nose as I hobbled down the snow covered streets. My dark green jacket that was a dozen sizes too big swayed past my knees and let in the chilly air every time I took a step. My breath froze into a fog in front of my eyes and my blonde hair was turning white from the thick sheets of snow. I had been outside for hours, turned around by the blinding, white blizzard. Being only in the second grade, my sense of direction wasn’t too keen, and even my neighborhood seemed like a maze.

I had left my house to go and find my mom who had left on a walk a few hours ago. She was probably back by now, wondering where I had gone. I imagined her heating a steaming mug of hot chocolate, the rich chocolaty smell wafted through the entire house. My mouth watered from the thought.

I jumped  when I heard a loud chattering noise coming from behind me. My heart was racing and the hairs on the back of my neck stood straight up. I silenced my footsteps, trying not to step on the ice, as I listened intently.  The sound came again like the clacking of heels on a tile surface, it was so close I could touch it… I stopped breathing, awaiting the sounds next arrival. It came again, it was coming right from inside me! I finally realized it was my teeth chattering together from the cold, sending shivers down my spine. I sighed in relief of my realization and began to walk on in the mysterious snowy light in hopes that my home was somewhere close by.

I took my hands out from their hiding place in my jacket pockets and looked awestruck at their purplish hue as the winter was not taking it easy on me. My boots were damp and cold, and my feet seemed to freeze with every step I took. I wanted to sit down in the middle of the road and cry. I wanted the icy wind to pick me up and take me away into the clouds, closer to the sun. But I kept walking, letting my freezing hands be my only motivation to move on.

Then, a thick black fog came swirling in the sky, a familiar chimney stuck up from a familiar roof. And the smell of a warm crackling fire filled my nostrils nose and I grinned. I had finally found my house after what seems like a lifetime of searching! I kicked off my boots and sprinted barefoot through the soft snowbed towards my front door. I unlatched the hinge and pushed the door open. A warm blast of air caressed my face as I looked in on a golden fire. I pictured my mom’s warm, inviting face awaiting me in the kitchen. Her bright smile could cheer up an entire room.

“Chilly out there, isn’t it?” My mom would say.

I would look at her with laughter bubbling in my throat as I could only nod to agree as my lips would be frozen together.

“Come on in I made your very favorite, warm up!”

The smell of hot chocolate wafted through the entire house, and my mouth began to water knowing, it was awaiting my retrieval in the kitchen.