The Signs of the Moon

She stared up at the moon. It was encircled by a red ring. She shivered because she knew that was a sign of trouble not far behind. She pulled her shawl tighter around her shoulders and turned back to the warmth and comfort of her home.

The fire burned hot in the stove and she rubbed her hands together, hoping to stave off the chill that had begun to run through her body. The signs of the moon were almost never wrong. She knew something was coming. She knew it wasn't going to be good.

She poured whiskey into a glass and reveled as the warmth spread through her body when she sipped it. She closed her eyes and wondered what trouble could be waiting for her just around the corner. Was she being punished for her sins. She had known he was married, and she had allowed herself to fall for him anyway.

But, no, that had been over for awhile now. She knew she wouldn't sleep that night. The sign was clear, trouble was coming. She didn't know when, but it was coming soon. The air had changed as well. There was a chill that wasn't there before. She shivered again, trouble was closer than she could have imagined.

She sat in her rocking chair by the fire, sipping a second glass of whiskey, and stared out into the dark night. The silence was broken by a loud bang. She jumped, and looked around, her heart racing. The broom she kept by the front door to sweep away evil had fallen. That meant only one thing, company was coming.

Now, her blood ran cold. She began to piece together the signs, and she suddenly realized that she knew exactly what was coming. She couldn't believe it. It was too soon. This wasn't supposed to happen for years to come. She dropped to the floor, her head in her hands, and wept. She wasn't ready. She was supposed to have more time. Her head shot up, tears still filling her eyes, when there was a knock at the door.

She stood slowly, smoothed out her skirt, and wiped her eyes. She knew there was no way she could fight this, and there was no use delaying the inevitable. She crossed the room, placed her hand on the knob, and took a deep breath. She turned the knob and opened the door. There he was, standing in front of her tall and glorious, nothing like she had imagined he would be.

"It's time." He whispered holding out his hand for her to take.

She nodded and placed her hand, and shivered as his icy fingers wrapped around hers. She glanced around her home one last time as she pulled the door closed. She knew she would never return here. It was her time, it had come too soon, but it was here. She followed him into the darkness, accepting that her time here was through.