65: A piece of meat

Did my heart turn cold on the most Edmonton of days?

A friend of mine has said that one of the reasons they didn’t enjoy living in Edmonton is because in winter, it hurts to breathe.

This was one of those days.

It was not windy, so not only did your breath blur your face, but the air itself was so cold that it seemed foggy with ice. It didn’t just hurt to breathe, it hurt just to be. Inside was the only reprieve, and cruel jokes of protection would remind you of that: a cold car, a bus shelter.

People have many reasons for living in the city, but this was the type of day that absolutely everyone rethinks why.

For my occasion of the day, it couldn’t have been more perfect. Any touch of pleasure to the weather, to the day for that matter, would be incongruous to what I would do and how it would impact my life.

The story wouldn’t have as much weight if there wasn’t any heaviness to the air.
Heavy air, heavy subject.

As that was the day.