The Winter People

by Jennifer McMahon

“If snow melts down to water, does it still remember being snow?”

I think everything must have a soul and a memory, even tigers and roses, even snow. And, of course, old Shep, who spends his days sleeping by the fire, eyes closed, paws moving, because he’s still a young dog in his dreams. How can you dream if you don’t have a soul?

“The people who are stuck between here and there, waiting. It reminds me of winter, how everything is all pale and cold and full of nothing, and all you can do is wait for spring.”

“Sometimes they’re angry. They hate being stuck. They want to come back but they don’t know how, and the more they try, the more angry they get. Sometimes they’re just lonely. All they want is someone to talk to.”