Chapter 14

Nestled under a sheet and three blankets, believing I’m going to freeze to death during the post-midnight hours, I hear a cracking sound and instantly spring to an upwards position on the bed. Rather suddenly, one of the four tower windows blows open, its wood clanking against the wall. The crack is obnoxious and startling. Cold wind and snow rake through the circular room, blowing this way and that, spiraling, stinging my cheeks.

One of the Victorian pictures of a young boy along the Seine River blows against the wall, its wooden frame creating a disturbing snapping sound. The small desk chair tumbles over. Wind becomes a tirade of three snaps, swirling around the room in rage. Again, I feel as if I’m in a scene ofFrozen, under a cold spell in a very dark fairy tale, blemished from the chill.

To my surprise, escaping the bed and moving to the window, no glass is shattered upon my inspection of the window. I simply close and lock it, spin around and…