I stumbled exhausted through the growing inches of snow. Man! I was grateful I’d brought proper gear, because instead of just cold to the bone, lost in the woods with no food, I’d have been dead in the woods instead. Hm. Actually, I’d rather be dead than where I am right now.

My breath, mist in the freezing air, accompanies several crystals of ice on their drifting journey down from the gloomy white cotton candy clouds in the sky to the thick white blanket of their peers already on the ground. I watch them in envy for a minute— at least they are with other of their kind, unlike me, too stubborn to remember the number one rule of hiking, that being to always bring a friend. Then I stumble on, anything to keep me off the subject of my own stupidity.

My hands, face and toes are cold and the rest of me hot as I stumble on once more, up a hill. Why did I get lost? Why did I even do this anyway? Why didn’t I charge my phone??

As I push up the hill, I become faintly aware of a glowing yellow light. I ignore it at first, thinking it’s probably just the sunset. I push that thought away, because I do not want to be lost with the wolves in the freezing cold forest.

Luckily, as I reach the top of the hill I realize I have been spared after all. A cosy little cottage is in front of me, covered in snow. Windows invite me to catch a glimpse of a modern living room, modern yet rustic with a nice warm roaring fireplace. Books line the walls and above the fireplace is a tv connected to an Xbox.

The thing that really catches me is the fact it’s on.

Rushing up to the front door with all my draining energy, I knocked.

The sound of someone walking to answer me is music to my ears, the sweetest sound on earth. I collapse on the doorstep, waiting, my cheeks red and freezing.

The door opens, and a rush of warm, sweet air brushes my cheeks. I let out a happy sigh as relief sweeps over me. Looking up to see my host, I brace myself to beg my hopefully host for mercy.

It’s a girl. Quite short. She rolls her eyes at the sight of me, sighs, and holds out her hand to help me up. As she leads me into a coat hall, I looks around curiously. She shuts the door behind her and points to the coat hanger and boot tray. “Go on, take your stuff off.” Her voice is quiet but holds a lot of assertance. I take my stuff off. Interesting. There is only shoes for one person, but there is enough space for more people. It didn’t look like anyone had left the cabin, though.

The girl gestures to the kitchen. She sits me down on a couch in the living room and gives me a warm blanket and tissues for my dripping nose. As I warm up, I hear a whistling sound and a few minutes later she’s back with hot chocolate. Handing it to me, she sits down, and a dog that was lying on the carpet trots up to her. It’s a small but cute one, a cocker spaniel I think. She lifts it up to her lap and sits there for a while absentmindedly watching the fire and stroking her dog.

I sip my hot chocolate. It’s warming and sweet with a chocolatey taste. Breathing in the sweet-smelling steam, I ponder about what would a girl this size be doing alone in the woods? She clearly wasn’t a child.

“Are you a midget?” I finally blurt out, my big mouth rudely interrupting the silence. It’s the only logical conclusion I can come up with.

“No.” She gives me a look. Just like the streak in her blond hair with brown her eyes are blue and framed with rectangular purple glasses. “I’m not a midget.” She has a voice like a child’s. So I guess that answers the question.

“Why did you move out here?”

“Someone had to, to give those lost to the point of no return hope. You will find me no matter where you live, waiting for someone lost forever to stumble to my door. They always do.”

“Lost forever?” I gape.

“Not anymore.” The girl stands up, much to the disappointment of her dog, who hops down and walks over to the fire. She goes into the kitchen and comes back with a map. Showing it to me, I see it’s a path that leads you from there to the nearest town. It’s not that far, which explains how she got the hot chocolate.

“Oh. Thanks.” I accept it and she has me stand up. All my gear has dried off. I put it on, and looking outside I see it’s dark.

“How about you wait till morning,” the girl suggests. I agree and she leads me to a guest bedroom. I settle down for the night.

The next morning, I wake up. All is quiet. I creep out of my room and slip into the kitchen. But the girl is already there, sitting on a stool by the island and sipping more hot chocolate. I never changed out of my clothes, so I’m already ready. The girl gesture to a bag sitting on the counter. It’s my bag. “Packed some supplies for you, I think its time you left.” She hands me the bag and I take it without complaint. Putting it on, I walk out the door and wave farewell to her. Turning, I realize something,

“Wait! I never got your name!” I turn back to the cottage, but it’s gone. Looking down at the map, I see that in the place of the cabin on the map is instead a mini picture of me. The map…the cabin…it’s too much, especially when I see a bunch of lines appear glowing in front of me to light the way to town. I run and never look back, especially when I reach the end of the forest.

But when I reach my house, I can’t help but turn back. It’s crazy. The cabin is far off in the distance. But I keep hoping to see it.

Why? I don’t know. But I’ll never forget the girl, cabin and dog who saved my life.