Darkness

The day started the same, toast, juice, coffee. A read of the morning paper, CBC on the radio just finishing up the news.
Ready to start the day as always but a shooting pain passes behind his eye as he stands. He stumbles as he reaches for the table with one hand while the other impulsively pushes into the eye socket but it's too late. He falls over on the floor and has to lay there until the pain subsides. It does but after a very long time. He pulls his hand away to find blood on it. Not sure if this is from his nose or the eye itself he moves toward the bathroom to look in the mirror and wash.
Just a nose bleed. Well small miracle. He feels the same but a haze clouds his senses.
Time to work he thinks, can't put this off any more. He bundles up to match the -15° temperatures, boots, coat, hat, gloves and heads out the door. There was a fresh snow last night, this will make it easy.
He starts the car and heads down his side street, left onto maple ave and then right onto the township road that leads to the crown land past the Shell plant. Here the road ends and trails begin. On warmer days this area is full of outdoor enthusiasts. Not at this temperature though. He parks the SUV and locks the door, more out of habit than anything else. He takes a deep breath and begins to walk.
45 minutes later he finds the tree he marked the day before and smiles as he sees the frayed rope that hangs around the trunk. He can see a few areas to the west where the snow was lifted up, fresh snow covers the ground but in the trees it isn't heavy enough to cover up completely.
He starts out, finding tell-tale signs here and there then abruptly changes to distinguishable drag marks and tiny spots of blood appear. Happy with the progress he relaxes a bit, and takes a second to breath in the pine scented air. "I Love this place" he says out loud. He reaches into his pocket and unwraps a new Olfa knife carefully placing the garbage into his pocket. He is wearing rubber gloves underneath a brand new pair of wool gloves.  Within minutes he has reached him. He calls his name, "Bill!"
Bill had been crawling all night after he managed to gnaw the twine into two pieces and escape from the tree. He still had his coat on but his pants were shredded and his hobbled legs were exposed and frozen solid now.
"Where you going Bill?” Shall we finish?"
He walks up alongside and reaching down, grabs his hair baring his throat.
Bill just stares straight ahead.
He extends the razor sharp blade and slices up and around.
Bill eyes remain open but everything is now in darkness.