By the time he reached the hole, the wind had picked up. He brushed snow away from the surface and set to work with his ice drill. The handle vibrated in his hands as the metal bit deeper, sending a harsh mechanical rasp across the frozen expanse. He leaned into it, his fingers aching inside his gloves, until the drill finally broke through.
He cleared the loose ice, prepared his line and lowered it into the dark water. Then he settled in to wait. The wind swept across the frozen expanse, but Nolan barely noticed anymore. He had spent countless mornings fishing alone in these waters, and the familiar routine brought him a quiet sense of comfort. Out here, he could lose himself in the stillness and forget about everything beyond the horizon.