After two hours, I realised that I had no other choice I was going to have to abandon the car and start the long, long walk home. I knew I should have left work earlier, but the snow didn't seem that bad from the office window. Fuck it. Now there were cars queuing up for miles as they struggled to get up the icy, snow covered hills, and my petrol light is on.
I left a quick message on Facebook to let people know I was heading home and not to worry! Fuck it again - phone battery is getting low. I put on my hat and gloves, emptied by bag of non-essentials and locked up the car. The wind was freezing, and the snow was getting heavier. Soon it would be dark. I started up the long hill, crunching underneath my feet.
After about an hour, my legs were completely numb, my lips were like ice, and snowflakes tickled my eyelashes. Still so far to go, but no going back now. I tried not to cry as 4x4s drove past me, heading to where I was going. There was no footpath, just trees and snow. The hill was getting steeper - just get to the top of this one and then downhill all the way home. Another vehicle was coming up behind me, slowly and carefully navigating the ice, and left me in darkness as it too went past. But at the top of the hill, it stopped - red brake lights winking at me. The engine stopped, the hazard lights came on and the door opened,
'It's you! What are you doing here?'
He grinned as he stepped out of the truck and came towards me. 'I thought you might need rescuing.'