The Outside

Natalia stared out the window.  It was a cold day out, and she did not like going out to begin with.  Still she couldn't just stand there forever.  Eventually we all have to move.

Slowly, with great deliberation, Natalia stepped away from the window and turned to face her cluttered bedroom.  She would not be cleaning it today; the outside world beckoned.  She shuddered involuntarily at the idea. 

Lying at the base of the bed was the dress she had picked out for the day.  Natalia picked it up and examined it by idly rolling the rough cloth between her fingers.  It was a strong dress, and it would keep the cold out fairly well, but it tended to itch.  She hesitated briefly before pulling the dress over her head. 

After the rest of her clothes she put on her grandmother’s necklace.  It was a triangle of gold with a small diamond in the middle of it.  Her grandmother had always told her that it was a special necklace that would protect her from the evils of the outside world.  She never went outside without it.  She paused to flip the necklace over so that the diamond was prominently displayed.  It glittered despite the lack of available light sources.

The wind rustled the trees and a loose shutter on one of her with neighbors’ windows rattled.  She did not want to go out into the cold, but knew she must.  It was time to face her fears one more time.  It was harder every day to fight the fear. 

The dress did not protect from the wind as much she would have liked, but the diamond sparkled on.