15.Love in the Snow（332）

Lesson 15  Love in the Snow

The south of the country experienced its heaviest snowfall in a hundred years.

The snow lasted for two weeks non-stop, blocking trains, roads, and airport runways.

Ice covered and shut down the power and communication networks.

Loads of people got stuck at train stations, bus depots, airports, and even inside their cars, buses, and trains.

Everyone worked hard to overcome the snowstorm, ensuring no one died from the cold or hunger.

Eventually, everyone trapped made it back home safely.

There were many heartwarming stories during this time.

While battling the snow, people forgot about their animal pals until a touching tale about two swallows spread online.

This swallow pair hadn't eaten for days because the snow had covered everything.

They tried to enter homes to get warm, but every place was locked up tight.

At last, they landed on a balcony shielded from the wind but couldn't fly anymore.

They hopped and flapped to catch the attention of people inside, who were preoccupied.

The female was frozen and couldn't move.

Her mate cuddled her with his wings, trying to warm her with his body heat.

But with his wings spread, the male quickly lost his warmth.

The pair passed away from the cold and hunger, holding each other.

The next morning, the homeowner went to check his balcony flowers and found a swallow dead against the window.

When he touched it, he realized there were two, embracing each other.

Remembering how tough the snowstorm was for people, he teared up.

He brought them inside for the warmth they couldn’t feel anymore.

He placed them in a small box filled with hay and buried them in the community garden.

In my countryside hometown, a swallow family lives under our roof.

They return from the south every spring to nest.

Then, come fall, after their young are grown, they head south for the winter.

I'm left wondering if they'll return this spring as they always have.