The holiday resort boasts of having a frozen chamber – in a country that sees snow only on mountain peaks.
Her boisterous teenagers come out with shades of blue on their skin.
It has been a tough battle keeping them in. Yes, snow would be the easy way out, even if it was artificial.
“Mom, it’s different from our holiday in Europe. We can choose the temperature settings here. But the attendant asked us not to freeze ourselves to death.”
Death? Isn’t it the specter she is trying to forget after losing her husband?
“We’re going back tomorrow,” her frozen voice breaks the silence.
“Oh, come on, Mom! Overcome silly fears. We will leave you, but after a couple of years. We don’t have jobs as yet.”
The playful remark brings up another scene of loneliness.
There’s no escape from it, no end to it.
Prompt line
‘Snow would be the easy
way out’
by Rita Dove

I hope her grief will decrease with time.
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Time heals, because new things are superimposed on the old we thought was permanent.
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I hope her grieving has lessened and she has some new, consuming, hobbies by the time her teens are ready to leave home. Nicely textured slice of life story.
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Thank you, Lisa!
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You’re welcome, Reena.
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Very cleverly done, Reena.
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Thank you, Bill!
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Gorgeously encapsulated, Reena! 💜💜
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Thank you so much, Sanaa!
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If only we could thaw the blues, Reena! I’ve never experienced a frozen chamber, although I have been snowed in a house before, but not with artificial snow and different temperature settings! I love the phrase ‘her frozen voice breaks the silence’.
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Thank you, Kim!
Artificial snow chambers work in India, because we hardly have real snow. Tourists do go to the mountains in December to experience real snow. That’s it.
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I doubt it would be an easy way out, freezing to death.
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They keep adjusting the temperature as per comfort of visitors 🙂
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Very nicely incorporated Reena
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Thank you so much!
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You’re welcome
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