Then another.
Then the nun burst into laughter.
Not a polite little laugh either — a full, uncontrollable laugh that echoed off the wooden walls.
The priest sat up.
“Sister?”
But now he was laughing too.
Maybe it was the exhaustion. Maybe it was the cold. Maybe it was spending hours trapped inside a tiny cabin while snow piled against the windows. Whatever it was, they both laughed until tears rolled down their faces.
Eventually they settled down again.
Minutes passed.
Everything grew quiet.
The priest finally closed his eyes and thought:
“Now I can finally sleep.”
Then he heard:
“Father…”
His eyes opened immediately.
“…yes, Sister?”
Long pause.
Very innocent voice:
“If we’re pretending to be married…”
The priest slowly sat up.
“…yes?”
“Can I ask you something?”
He rubbed his forehead.
“What is it?”
The nun said:
“Can you go check what that strange noise outside is?”
The priest stared into the darkness.
“…Nice try, Sister.”
And from somewhere beneath three blankets came quiet giggling.