Melting

He’s thawing. He’ll be gone soon.

I rush up to the window and look out at my friend. He smiles sadly back at me and raises a hand to the glass.

My palm chills when I place it over his.

I want to go outside, but not everyone out there is as magnanimous as my friend. And some of the creatures, they get desperate when the air starts to warm.

Beads of water trickle down both of our faces. Mine are tears. His might be. Or he could be melting that fast.

He meets my eyes and blows a little kiss. And then he turns and glides away, fading quickly into the melting snow.

He’ll be back next year. But it still hurts to see him go.