So there she was, decked in the thickest coat she owned and a scarf that a friend offered her for the night, holding a bucket in one hand and jingling a little bell with the other. She had foolishly left her gloves at home and the shoes she wore weren't meant for long distancing trekking in the snow, but she did have a phone to use to have one of the volunteers come back for her. Maybe she should have been concerned for her safety and health, given how cold the night was quickly becoming and how overwhelming the frigid and unfamiliar white landscape was vastly becoming. But they had faith that Bethany would return when it got too cold. Bethany was a capable young girl and there was always security in the park. Bethany assured them she'd be fine, but now, she was starting to doubt that very, very much.
There was no one in the park except for her, and had she stopped ringing, the silence would have deafening, so she dared not stop her motions now. Even when her arms were getting tired and the muscles begged for her to stop, she kept on ringing. She needed to get home, but her bucket was empty, and she couldn't return to St. Magdalena's empty handed. Where was everyone? Surely the snow wasn't the only thing keeping them away? Maybe they heard her and simply stayed away, not willing to bare the shame of telling a young teen that they had no change to spare? Maybe that was it? Humans were prideful creatures by nature and Bethany understood those feelings all too well, and it was enough to quell her rising bitterness. She gave a defeated sigh, finally stopping in her ringing and trudging through the blanket of snow that had formed within the last hour.
There was nothing to be gained here, she thought, hiking up her dress a little and making her way to the rest station to hide from the chilling winds at least while she called for her ride. All she wanted to do was help people, good people , and this was her reward?
Aqua Drageen
Kyuseisha no Hikari
