Page 12 of Snow One Like You

“Me, too,” he concurs. “Why would anyone want to see you when I’m here?”

“Because they’re smart,” I retort as I rise once again, this time remaining on my feet, to head toward my doom. I mean, the front. It can’t be that bad, right?

“Here he is,” Valdez declares, indicating an older couple. I stare at them, trying to discern who they are before moving on to why they’re here. My gaze catalogs various things, yet my brain can’t make sense of them. The man’s eyes are the same shade as Snow’s. The woman has the exact color hair, the only difference being that hers is braided on the sides and clipped, from what I can tell, in the back. That and the strands of pink and purple woven through it.

These have to be her parents.

I was wrong. It’s worse. I was walking to my potential demise, and the gentleman glaring at me just might deliver it. If his wife doesn’t beat him to it.

**Snow**

I know, as soon as my coworker declares that we should have an easy day ahead of us, that we’re screwed. You never say that at work. It’s just asking for the universe to mess with you.

We all hiss at her and she raises her hands in apology. “I forgot,” Marley whispers in horror.

I scoff at that. “Do you remember what happened the last time one of us threw out that challenge?”

The others shudder at the memory. “Oh shit,” Marley mumbles in fear. “What have I done?”

“You’ve doomed us all,” Sarah informs her. Grabbing her cell, she unlocks it, then states, “I’m calling my husband and kids. They need to know I love them before I go.”

We may sound superstitious as hell, but we’ve learned from experience. You never say that phrase out loud. Thinking it doesn’t tempt Fate. Verbalizing it, however, is like thumbing your nose at her, taunting her that you know better.

Snagging a piece of paper, I pull a pen from the holder and let them know, “I knew I should’ve seen the lawyer about my last will and testament. I put it off because I’m so young.”

Marley latches on to that, not wanting to take the blame that’s rightfully hers. “Maybe this is your fault then.”

“Oh no, woman,” I correct her. “This is on you.”

“Shame, shame, shame,” Natalie adds, using the cadence from that dragon show that was so popular a few years ago.

“I can reverse it, can’t I?” Marley pleads.

Shrugging, I respond, “Don’t know. It’s never been attempted.”

“I’m Googling it,” Sarah interjects. “There has to be something we can do.”

“You can do your jobs,” Dr. Tessa Harding teases as she walks by our stations in the center of the office. We’re each located in different sections of the circle, allowing us to see to multiple patients as needed, while still being close enough to chat when we aren’t busy. Which, admittedly, we almost always are. She, and the others, thankfully, also know we never shirk our duties, and that our camaraderie helps pass the hours. I bitch and moan about my job at times – who doesn’t – but I actually really like working here.

“We have a code brown,” I explain. Labeled as such because it’s the cleaner version of ‘oh shit.’

Tessa’s eyes widen. “Who did it? I’ll get the shackles.” Marley slowly raises her hand, head hanging. “I can’t die a virgin,” she pouts, grinning as she plays along.

“I’ve found it,” Sarah whisper shouts with a wink. “It states that we must sacrifice a virgin.” We all crack up, laughing as we resume our respective tasks.

It seems as if our humor appeased Fate and that she won’t punish us for our transgression because the morning goes smoothly. I’m preparing to leave for lunch, today not being my turn to take the later break, when I unmute my cell. It rings in my hand, startling me.

“Hey, sweetheart,” Calvin’s smooth voice greets me.

“Hey, honey.” He sounds welcoming, yet he usually waits until he knows I’m at lunch if he can talk. “What’s up?”

“Not sure how to say this,” he begins and my stomach clenches. That can’t be good. I glare at Marley, casting blame where it’s due. There’s no way he’s breaking up with me, right? We’re too perfect together. Huh. Maybe that’s the issue. When something is too good to be true, it usually is. I prepare myself for the pain, deciding I’ll join a convent and steer clear of men from now on – not difficult as I only want him.

“Just get it over with,” I urge him. Taking a deep breath, I calm down, chanting that it won’t be that bad. It can’t.

Crap, I recall after once more unintentionally tossing the gauntlet at Fate. I jinxed it. “Your dad and mom are at the station.”

“I always knew this day would come,” I mutter.

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