With one final attempt, my boots that have zero grip give out from beneath me, and I go down. Instinctively, my hand shoots out to stop my fall, which it does, but it also slips on the freezing cold, icy sidewalk, and I land on it. Hard. Pain slices from my hand to my elbow, immediately followed by a sharp thwack when my ass and back meet concrete. Thankfully I stop myself just in time to prevent smacking the back of my head.
