Noah's light blue eyes looked up and down Ava's cold figure. She shivered as the frosty wind hit her arms. Ava quickly tightened the grip on her red sweater. It was the only thing she had to keep warm this winter. This winter was like no other. The chilling wind flew in the cold air, like a sand storm of ice. One wrong turn in the forest this morning during their daily walk turned into an adventure as they tried to trace their tracks and find their way back home. When they thought they were on the right path, a nasty snow blizzard overtook them like a horrible nightmare.   

Ava started to worry as she noticed the sun come closer to the ground, which meant the sun was going to set soon. Her heart started to panic as her tummy grumbled with hunger when Noah suddenly saw something shiny on the snow-filled ground. He bent down and handed Ava a coin. She grabbed it like it was gold from her brother's hand like it was the answer to her problems. She would be able to buy bread maybe. Her mouth was already watering, with the idea of food, Ava's stomach started to rumble. Ava only had one choice, to get up and walk towards the nearest store that she could find.

Ava knew that she would probably get kicked out of the store since they would think she was trying to steal something, but she had to try. Ava stood outside the store. The snow stopped falling on her blonde hair. She took a deep breath, held her head high, and marched in while holding the coin out so the shop keepers could see it clearly. The heat inside startled her, making her heart race fast. She felt as if everyone who was inside the store studied her as if she was from a whole new dimension. Well, what would they expect from a 14-year-old who was wearing a thin old sweater and gloves with tiny holes on a cold winter afternoon?  

 It was hard when there was no one to protect you when you're on your own. No mom nor dad, just siblings who have each other. Noah and Ava both had been orphans since they were young. They had been living pretty much on their own since Ava was 10 and Noah was 13. Their mother's eldest sister gave them shelter since then, as she never married and didn't have children of her own. She wasn't quite well off and gave them the basic necessities to the best of her ability. Now they were teenagers at the age of 14 and 17.  Once the two were together, they stayed together.. forever. They both didn't want to lose each other.

Ava stood still as everyone tried to guard her with every move, hoping they could catch her stealing something. Ava was sure that she would never give them pleasure with the way they were glaring at her. She just looked through the rows and rows of canned and packaged food. She had never felt so hungry in her life. Ava's heart hammered as she got to the aisle that had bread as she tried to find the cheapest one. It felt like real heaven.

Ava wished that she could stay for longer. The warmth, the idea of being able to eat, the smell of food... it was all she ever wished for since they got trapped in the horrible blizzard. The man behind Ava glared at her as she looked through the aisles of the small shop. The heat felt amazing like it kept her alive. More alive than she had ever felt during these past two days.

Ava slowly headed towards the counter, hoping this heaven would last forever, as she paid for the bread. The woman checked the pockets of her light pink sweater, to make sure that Ava hadn't stolen anything. Ava just shook her head and sighed. How could I have possibly stolen anything? And why is everyone watching me like a hawk? Ava asked herself as she grabbed the bread and headed for the door.

Ava quickly ran to her brother Noah and held up the bread to show that they finally had something to eat. They both opened the plastic around it and started eating from the soft, delicious bread, bit by bit. It was a dream come true. Thank you, God! They both thought in their minds as their mouths continued to enjoy the sweet, buttery taste of bread.

The bread didn't last for long. By the time the bread was finished, they were full, but there was none left for later. Ava let out a small sigh of disappointment into her blanket. She didn't want to think of her next meal yet. Her blanket was the only thing she could hold on to. Noah looked at his sister and smiled, trying to make her feel a bit more comfortable.

The temperature was going down, and the air was getting colder. The streets were starting to empty, as people started running to their homes, not even giving a glance at the siblings' poor state. Why do I even exist? I might as well be dead. I need a future and some good luck. Thought Ava. But that night, Ava wasn't lucky. It was cold and freezing. It was a night where her dreams wouldn't come true.

Ava felt as if she had no more body heat left inside of her. The cold put Ava into more misery than she could imagine. She couldn't hold on, but she needed to. She needed to survive. She wanted to see the sunrise the next day, the birds singing, her eyes opening, but the snow was slowly freezing her hands as she clutched onto her arms. Ava started to think of heat. Of fire. Of warmth. Of love. Things she would never get her hands on... and for a change, she knew it was all the truth. 

The night carried on very slowly as the two teenagers stayed outside that cold night. How could they have left? They didn't have anywhere to go, so why would they? The snow that was falling from above was powerful. Ava shivered, thinking of the bread she and Noah had eaten before.

She remembered Noah's warm eyes as he gave her the coin. She hadn't properly thanked him. Maybe tomorrow I can go to the park. She thought happily in her head with a small shrug. Ava smiled as she imagined the beautiful scenery that she could've seen. She knew she wouldn't make it, but just in case.

Cold shivers went down Ava's spine as the icy wind blew through Ava's body. She was suddenly frozen. She couldn't move because of the sleet forming around her numb toes. She was only 14 years old. She had made it through three hard years with her brother. Ava suddenly gasped. Somewhere in the blizzard was her older brother. "Noah...where are you? Please come back! I'm sorry!" she said as she felt some tears run down her cheeks. This was the time when Noah would be gone. Ava would be all alone.

Ava's eyelids started to droop, and eventually, they closed. Ava saw light. She saw love. And she saw food. Mostly light. She was slowly starting to let go. Her heart stopped beating. She stopped breathing. But she needed to. Her soul was free. She was now in the air. Ava was now gone! She had left her brother on his own. Noah was somewhere in the blizzard. Somewhere, where Ava couldn't see. Noah had been her older brother who was always there for her when she needed him. And now she was gone. Noah was on his own. And Ava had let him down...

THE END!! Hope you enjoyed this story, plz give any questions or comments and I will be happy to answer :))