Frosty Wonder

A short story inspired by Day 1 of Beth Kempton's Winter Writing Sanctuary 2024.

There is a crystal of frost on the frozen window. It is one of many–its brothers and sisters spread crackle across the pane. At eye level, sure, there is beauty, but nothing of surprise to the naked eye. But, nothing is as it seems at first glance, is it? 

Anna is drawn closer and closer to the crystal on the window. She finds herself getting so close that she steps inside the crystal–an icy-white wonderland of geometric patterns reflecting fractals of light across the surface on which she stands. In awe, Anna crouches down to inspect the details of this frosty cold crystal even further. The sharp and jagged surface resembles a miniature mountain range, which, to Anna's surprise, has grown into the icy cliff that she finds herself standing at the edge of. 

As far as the eye can see, the world around her is shimmering white, nearly blinding, and she spins to gaze at her surroundings. "How many worlds are nestled inside this tiny ice crystal?" she wonders and contemplates what might happen if she tried going deeper still into the details of this winter ice-scape when she finds herself back in front of the frosty-cold window. 

Maybe one day she'll go even deeper into her wildest of dreams, but for now, this is where she gladly lands in contemplative content.