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I hate crying. Your eyes get all red and puffy, your nose starts running, your voice cracks. I can honestly say I had only cried less than once a year since I turned four. And yet I've cried so much these past few days. Ever since Dylan left.

I don't know what I did wrong. I was such a good little girlfriend. After I moved in with him, I did everything I could to keep him happy. I did his laundry, cooked for him whenever he was home, kept the house clean. Whenever he would go off to hang with friends or go to the skate park, he would always kiss me goodbye.

Until that day. He was in a bad mood and left in a hurry. I thought nothing of it, and waited patiently all day and night for him to get home. But he never did. The day after, I knew it was over. I ran out weeping, heading for the woods behind our house. The winter's chill was striking the air. I almost went back for my sweater, then decided that it didn't matter. I didn't really care about little things like that anymore. Why should I, when he didn't care about me? I just kept running, not caring if I died in this stupid forest. When I tripped over a root and tumbled to the ground, I just curled up underneath the tree and sobbed quietly.

After the sun had set, I heard what sounded like a heavy winter breeze and then a soft crackling. I was disoriented when I first looked around, and couldn't see anything clearly. But I was positive I had seen a human-shaped figure. When I could see straight again, I looked around. Nothing. Guess I was just losing it.

"Hello, child. What is your name?" I heard from behind me. I jumped and tried to push myself forward while turning around. What I saw was definitely unexpected.

There was a beautiful woman standing there. Her shoulder-length strawberry-blonde hair was tipped with what looked like blue frost. The turquoise sleeveless evening gown she was wearing dragged along on the ground behind her, but somehow was completely clean. Her ice blue eyes were soft, and she had a sad look on her face. I replied to her question without thinking. "K-Kristen, ma'am." She smiled at me and spoke. "I see. He left you? That's a horrible thing to do. But that isn't the end."

"You wouldn't understand. He was everything. He took care of me. I can't live without him," I whispered, more to myself than her.

"That isn't true. Come with me. I can show you a whole different way of living. You won't ever look back. Just let me lead you." She put out her hand. A million thoughts and questions ran through my head at that moment. But only one came out.

"How do I know you won't leave me?"

"You'll just have to trust me," she answered, and offered her hand again. I didn't think twice. My arm moved of its own accord. I reached out and gripped tightly. She lifted me to my feet with surprising strength. I was suddenly in the air, and then over her shoulder. I couldn't tell her to put me down, though.

Because the cold had set in...