Comeuppance

By Jessica Lake

Ian was a dick.

He was the one

who ignored the warning:

“It’s late October.

It’s smooth sailing.

Bang!

Wind gusts 60. Whiteout.

That’s why the trail’s closed.

Mt. Washington is a bitch.”

Ian wasn’t having it.

He bullied Tracy.

She tagged along.

Near the summit.

Bang!

Zero degrees.

Zero visibility.

Wind screaming 70 mph.

First thing Ian did?

Lose Tracy.

A few half-hearted “Tracy?”s,

and he pushed on alone.

An hour later—

or ten—

Ian saw someone

through the curtain storm—

Tracy.

Trapped in ice.

Forever young.

Ian couldn’t decide:

which was dumber—

A dead Tracy

Or walking in circles?