Luger

>with a swipe of your debit card, the three boxes are off to their new homes
>three boxes, to three friends – the only friends you have
>you know they'll take care of your rifles
>you're pretty sure it's illegal to ship rifles directly to another person without going through a dealer
>but what are they going to do? arrest you?
>the thought brings a smile to your face, a smile without a trace of happiness
>you drive back to your apartment
>you grab a sheet of paper and your handgun before heading out
>you start driving aimlessly at first, and then with purpose
>you spend about four hours driving in silence
>pull into a tiny town in the middle of a national forest
>you used to stop here on vacation with your parents
>back when things were happier
>a long time ago
>you park the car at the rear of a gas station, and shut it off
>you pull out the piece of paper and open it up
>it's the title to your car
>or at least was your car
>you sign the back of it and leave it on the dashboard with the keys
>someone else's problem now
>you put your handgun in your pocket and set off into the forest

>there's not been much snow yet this year, so it's easy to walk through
>you head deeper into the woods as the sun starts to set
>as the sun disappears, the wind picks up and it starts snowing
>light flurries at first, then thicker and heavier
>you start shivering through your jacket
>you're really not dressed for this weather
>you keep heading into the woods, though
>finally you reach a point where you're shivering too much to keep walking
>you slump down against a tree, the trunk giving you a meager windbreak
>with numb hands, you pull your handgun out of your pocket
>normally in the woods of Montana you carry a gun for self-defense
>you carried yours for the exact opposite purpose today
>but you can't remember why anymore
>everything's kinda fuzzy
>maybe just a quick nap, and then you'll remember
>this snow makes a nice pillow

>”ANON! ANON, WAKE UP!”
>the tiny girl tugs at her sleeping owner
>the bitter wind and cold cut right through her dirndl dress
>her tears freeze to her face as she desperately tries to wake her owner up or drag him somewhere, anywhere
>she's too light, she can't move him
>she screams his name again and again, but she can't wake him up
>the only thing she can do is snuggle up next to him, offering what little warmth she still has to him
>her breathing slows, then stills
>a Luger sinks into the snow
>a white blanket covers them both