There was a sound in the distance. It was an odd sound that I could make little sense of at first. The sky was blue, the sun was shining so why did I hear thunder so loud it made the earth shake beneath my feet? In the mountains I had heard sounds echo before but this sound was like a loud roar which filled me with fear.

I turned to David just in time to see the realization of what was happening register on his face. His eyes became shadowed with what I could only assume was fear and urgency. I asked him what was wrong and as he responded I noticed he had gone quite pale. His response came in a single word, "Avalanche."

The word reached my ears as a soft whisper but it made my heart scream with fear. "Oh my God!" I looked quickly over my shoulder to the mountain and in the distance I could see a wall of white racing downward toward us. It was obvious we had only minutes and very few options.

David grabbed hold of my hand and starting pulling me. My mind was caught up in the panic and desperation and only few of the words he shouted at me registered. "Old abandoned mine shaft…" "Not much time…." "Have to hurry……." "Our only hope!"

We ran so hard and fast I thought my lungs would burst. He held my hand tightly refusing to let go. I didn't think I could keep up and begged him to let me go. I couldn't handle the thought of putting him in danger. He just kept dragging me along behind him ignoring my pleas.

It was only a minute or two before we reached the entrance to the mine. There were bars and metal railings to get past. It had been locked up tight. David grabbed hold of me and boosted me up, pushing me over the gate. I landed with a slightly stunned thud on the other side. In an instant he was there beside me again, picking me up and pulling me along. We had to climb up before we could go down.

He pulled me along the narrow cat walk, climbing higher and higher until we were two stories off the ground. The walk way was shaky and narrow making me grip his hand even tighter. I don't know why things like that even occurred to me considering what was coming our way. I guess it was easier to block out the real danger and remain in denial. I refused to believe I could be dead in moments.

When we finally reached the entrance we found the elevator locked down and David cursed under his breath. He pulled back some loose boards and we managed to get inside the entrance. I thought we were meant to remain where we were but David kept pulling me along. I had no idea the impact the avalanche would have. David explained to me that in seconds everything we could see from where we stood would be buried alive, including us!

He tied one end of a rope around my waist and the other around his, "Just in case" he said! This time it was me who turned pale and wondered "in case of what???".

There was a ladder that disappeared into the darkness down the shaft and he stepped down first pulling me down between him and the ladder. He placed his feet outside the rungs of the ladder and told me to place mine on his. He next instructed me to keep my hands loosely around the outer edges of the ladder. I began to ask why but found out the answer the hard way.

Suddenly the ground seemed to drop out from beneath my feet. I could feel David's body pressed against my back but that did little to stop my scream as we plummeted down the dark shaft. We were sliding down too quickly for my tastes but I guess there could be no help for it. Somewhere in the back of my mind I could hear David's soothing voice whispering reassuringly to me. Telling me it would be fine, we would be fine. I always said I trusted David with my life but I never imagined he'd find an opportunity to prove himself.

I was standing at the bottom of the shaft suddenly, I had my eyes tightly closed and I was holding my breath. I think I was even praying for my life at that moment when David took hold of my shoulders and shook me back to reality.

He grabbed me once more and pulled me along in the darkness. I asked him where he was taking me? What was he looking for? He told me that we were still only in the shaft and needed to find the entrance to the actual mine or we would still be buried alive.

Finally, he found a doorway and pushed me through. He slammed the old heavy door closed behind us just as the snow started to come pouring down the open shaft. I had never heard anything like it. I had to cover my ears to block out the sound as it slammed through the hollow caverns.

In a few minutes it was all over. It didn't take very long from the time we stood at our campsite until now. Only a few short moments and now here we were. Very much alive and very trapped. I shuddered to think of how far beneath the surface or the earth we were.

It dawned on me that we had gone from soaking wet and very cold to hot and sticky in seconds. Being this far below the surface the air became heavy and humid. I began to perspire and my clothes were sticking to me. I took off my outer layers trying to cool off a but it did little to help.

I couldn't see David in the darkness but suspected he was doing the same. I wanted to ask him questions but was afraid to hear the answers. The heat down there was beyond bearable and I knew we couldn't last very long without water. I began to think all we had done was prolong the inevitable.

I stood there silently in the darkness and cried softly. I hated giving in to my fear but it all felt so hopeless. I held my breath so David wouldn't know how frightened I was but he knew me so well he instinctively knew how I was feeling.

He followed the rope that still connected us, took me into his arms and pulled me close. He held me in his arms and kept whispering in my ear soothingly. He stroked my hair and kissed the top of my head several times. "Please don't worry darling, we'll be fine." "I hate it when you cry, I wish you would stop now." "We'll be fine." "We're together so nothing bad can happen to us."

He was so optimistic about everything working out that he always made me believe in him. I wanted so much to believe him this time but it still seemed hopeless. The crying made it harder for me to breath the stale heavy air and I began to get dizzy. I leaned on David hoping he would hold me up. He felt me going slack in his arms and he lowered me to the floor of the dark tunnel. He never let go of me. He just pulled me into his arms and stroked my brow telling me over and over again that I would be fine.

I don't know if I fainted or just went to sleep out of shock and exhaustion but the feeling of cool moisture woke me a short time later. At first I didn't know where I was, I had hoped it had been a bad dream but when I opened my eyes there was nothing but darkness. My instinctive reaction was one of panic but then David's calming voice came to me through the darkness and I felt better instantly.

David explained to me that after I passed out he frantically searched the floor for something he could use to break through the old wooden door at the entrance to the shaft. The door was so old and rotted that it didn't take much effort for him to break through. He grabbed a fistful of snow and melted some in his hands and let it trickle into my mouth. He rubbed some on my forehead and down my neck.

I could feel the cool moisture even as it evaporated from my chest now. He laughed softly and made a joke about opening my shirt while I was out cold. He said that it had been a terrible imposition for him to have to go to so much trouble! This time I laughed out loud.

The laughter helped to relieve some of the tension I had been feeling. David asked if I was feeling better and I was surprised to find that I was. My renewed spirits seemed to please him to no end. I heard him start to move about the cavern and felt the rope tug at my waist every now and then.

"David? What are you doing now?" It was strange how the sound of my own voice would bounce back at me from somewhere in the darkness. Even stranger was when I listened to David respond to me. "Looking for anything that might be useful dear, just sit tight." His voice sounded as if he sat beside me and yet sounded so far away. It made no sense but it was still comforting to hear his voice anyway.

Out of the darkness came a startling "AHA!" An instant later there was the sound of a match striking and the brilliant flare of light in the near distance. David had found a lantern hanging from the doorframe which lead to the next tunnel. It was a great maze of tunnels and we sat just at the opening of it all. If I weren't so terrified I might just find this exciting.

Once we had the lamp lit we were better able to assess our surroundings. David found storage cabinet with some emergency supplies. The mine was still worked at certain times of the year and obviously someone had planned for possible emergencies. That or there may have been workers that put in double shifts without bothering to return to the surface in between.

I went over to see what we were lucky enough to find and was thrilled. There were two blankets, some dried food supplies and bottled water. There were also a few dozen candles. We should be able to get by for a short time without worrying too much. It wouldn't be a weekend at the Ritz but we would survive.

I still wasn't too keen on being trapped underground but I now felt a sense of hope that we would manage to get out of this alive. We didn't know how long we would be down here so we decided to ration the food supplies as best we could. We would be hungry but it would be enough to keep us alive for a few days and we had an unlimited supply water with the snow outside the door.

David and I settled down upon the blanket I laid out upon the floor. It was still unbearably hot but there was nothing we could do about it. I decided that no one would be finding us anytime soon so I began to strip off my clothes. All I kept on was the little white cotton camisole, panties and ankle socks. The camisole clung to my body tightly. In all the heat and humidity it glued itself to me like a second skin outlining every curve of my breasts.

David sat there silently staring at me like he had never seen me undress before. I was a bit puzzled by the expression on his face "What??!" I asked him with a bit of frustration in my voice. I couldn't imagine what that look was all about.

He shook his head as if to clear his mind and if I didn't know better had turned a shade red.

"Why are you looking at me like that David?"

He cleared his throat and apologized. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to stare but do you have any idea what you look like in that?" He was on his feet looking down at me. He pointed a finger at me and waved his hand up and down in front of me in a quick, aggravated motion.

I looked down at myself and saw a plain tank top and panties and just couldn't understand his sudden lack of composure. Whatever it was that had him so worked up I don't know but I wish I could bottle it up for future use. He looked utterly adorable standing there in front of me, breathing hard, a bit red and a flash of excitement behind his eyes.

I reached my hand out to him and he took it. I pulled him down on top of me and began to kiss him. His shirt was open but he was still fully dressed. I loved the way his jeans felt against my bare legs. I loved having my body all tangled up with his as I lay beneath his weight drenched in sweat. There was something so intensely intimate in our joining.

We were so far away from the world and man, we were completely alone. Sex between us had always been great and never lacking in intensity so I was stunned by what I was suddenly feeling. It felt complete and whole. There was nothing between us, nothing in the world but us. No bills, no family, no friends, no jobs, just us, alone and trapped. We didn't know for certain that we would be found in time. We had no way of knowing.

We made love like it was the first time, like it would be the last time. Now I know what I would do if I were told this was to be my last day on the face of the earth. I would lock myself away somewhere with David and close out all the rest of the world. I would spend my last living moments with him and have no regrets over it.

I never felt so appreciated, so cherished by a man. I felt like I was the only woman alive. I felt special and treasured. He let me know just how precious my life really was. I don't think I would ever take life or David for granted again if we survived this.

We made love until we were left exhausted enough to sleep. I don't know how much time passed but it had to be several hours. I woke up in David's arms which prevented me from feeling frightened by the pitch blackness I opened my eyes to. To save lamp oil David must have blown out the lamp before he went to sleep.

I didn't want to wake him so I just snuggled closer to him. I held him a bit more tightly than I would if I were still sleeping which I guess was what told him I was awake. "Sleep well darling?" I still loved waking up to the sound of David's voice.

"Yes I did but I'm starting to hate this sauna we're trapped in." I tried to sound serious but I couldn't help laughing slightly. Here we were trapped, likely to die and I still found humor in the situation. I realized David had been right about me all those years, I must be insane. I stretched and sighed contentedly before snuggling back against David once more.

I guess my pre-nap activity and the nap itself had managed to renew my spirits somewhat. I felt a bit more playful and less worried. "David?" I continued on with my serious tone as best I could but as the words came so did the laughter, "You know that vacation I've been begging you to take me on? Well, I know we were watching our budget but THIS is ridiculous!"

The two of us started laughing at the same time. It really was very funny. Here we were, wondering if we were going to just die down here, our bodies being left undiscovered for Lord knows how many years and we were breaking into fits of laughter. David said it sounded as if I was feeling more myself and I made a bawdy comment reminding him that a tumble under ground with him would be just the thing for any woman lucky enough to find herself in such a position.

After a while I convinced David that we needed to get the door to the shaft partially open, the snow would give off some cool air and make it easier to breathe. We pulled back the one door and there stood a wall of white. It was firmly packed snow which stood there solid and immovable before us. I figured there was nothing else to do for it so I reached my hands into it and grabbed to fistfuls and promptly threw it in David's face. He was a little shocked for an instant but after a quick recovery he retaliated. It became a full blown snowball fight. The snow flew back and forth, our laughter echoing through the tunnels.

There was something incredibly romantic about it. We were alone, we were together, we were playful and laughing in the lamplight. I couldn't remember the last time we felt this close to one another. It was the best time I had ever had. Granted, we had no way out, but suddenly I was no longer looking quite so hard for one. I don't think David was either. He hadn't thought to bring it up so neither did I.

The hours passed into what I could only assume were days. It had felt like roughly three and half days had gone by. We slept, we nibbled on some very stale dried bits of food, we had snowball fights and we made love until we were both completely exhausted. What started out as hell became our paradise. We were lying in the darkness and I finally asked David what we were both wondering about but not saying. "David, do you think we're going to die down here?"

He turned and kissed me, just once very tenderly "What's wrong darling, not enjoying our holiday?" We both laughed again.

"Oh well, I guess it won't do me any good to worry. Okay, you're right, I won't think about it." I snuggled closer to him and he tickled me! He flipped me onto my back, pinned me beneath his weight and tickled me until I was breathless with laughter. I had tears pouring down my eyes and was begging him before he stopped.

We fell asleep holding each other tightly that night. As I drifted off to sleep I whispered an "I love you" to David and I prayed that we would get out of this. I wanted to spend a lifetime with David. I prayed we would have that chance.

I woke the next morning to David shaking me awake. He was laughing and it was annoying me. I groaned and rolled over trying to bury my face in the blanket, "David, I really want to go back to sleep, its not like we have anywhere to go today."

I heard David surpress a laugh but it was his next comment which caused me to bolt up and out of the blankets "Well darling, if you'd rather stay here all day but I was hoping to finally see some daylight."

He was always doing that to me. Making very important statements with an incredibly bland tone. The most monumental things were made to sound inconsequential. "David??" I was afraid to be excited, afraid to have hope. When I looked at him he smiled at me, he nodded toward the door and then I knew. It was in his eyes; David could tease and joke but the truth was always in his eyes for me.

I raced over to the door and pushed it open. I threw myself against it expecting it to require the force of my weight to even budge slightly but was surprised when I went straight through. I landed in a heap on the other side of the door. I was lying in a puddle of melted snow which left me completely confused.

David was standing there looking down at me and he was laughing. I attempted to sound angry with him, "Well, the least you could do is help me up!" He tried to look serious at hearing my tone and reached down to me but rather then let him help me up I pulled him down. Just one quick unexpected tug and he was rolling around in the water with me. We were both laughing and completely soaked.

I could have stayed there forever, alone with David, playing and laughing. I think that despite the uncomfortable circumstances it was the best vacation we ever had. Finally, he helped me to my feet and he headed for the ladder which would lead us back to the surface. I turned and looked behind me to the almost tomb like chamber which had us entrapped for the past few days knowing I would miss it somehow.

David was holding my hand and immediately realized that I hesitated to go on. "What's wrong, don't you want to get out of here?"

I smiled wickedly at him, "Well I just didn't see what the rush was, can't we go just a little later?" I winked at him and ran back inside. We made love one last time in the cavern and I'll never forget it. There was a certain intensity that could not be recreated in normal circumstances. We both knew that we were being given a second chance. A second chance at life and love and we were both going to appreciate each and every moment of it.

There are two things I remember about that particular experience that make it stand out in my mind (of course besides it being roughly in the neighborhood of three miles beneath the earth's surface). I can remember the sound of our voices traveling through the tunnels and echoing on and on making it seem as if we'd remain there as lovers forever. And, I can also still feel our fingers intertwined. As David entered me, he kissed me and he took my hands in his and there something more intimate in that gesture then any other I'd ever known. It touched my heart and made me feel completely loved.