(Also written recently based on a picture. Jex and Ashton are the main couple in my novel Janus. Marea is the woman who ditches Ashton at the altar in the prologue and she never really comes back in the story. I felt like writing her side of it. There's probably no room for it in the novel itself.)

Snow drifted down to her hand and she felt her mind wander. This wasn't like rain at all, though she understood rain was only warm snow. How could snow feel so dry? The white spots collected in her palm and caught on the fine hairs of her arm. All down her raven colored hair, the snow added to the natural star studded appearance she was born with. God-given, blessed. God's kisses were the snow, so why did she feel so alone?

Marea's hand dropped against the lace of her bonding gown. Her glass slippers didn't slip on the marble swirls in the path, but she felt herself tilting forward anyway. Just an illusion...no, this was all a dream. She thought Ashton was the one, but then she saw him in his bonding clothes with the knife and ring and it all fell apart. She knew she hurt him, but she could not complete the ceremony when it would be a lie. Her own bondmate lay elsewhere and his did as well. One day, he would be grateful, but today they would both cry. As the tears prickled in her eyes, she turned and ran.