Chapter 34: Getting To Know You

Back at the shack, I made a fire in the fireplace, then set the little wooden horse up on the mantle, and smiled, thinking of the larger one that sat on the mantle in my Chicago apartment.

Then I busied myself with more cleaning. I’d lost my appetite and had nothing else to do. Well, other than sort through the boxes. But I couldn’t bring myself to face them yet. One can only handle so much heartache in one day.

I worked well into the night, knowing it would be a sleepless one. The coyotes howled nearby and I wished I’d bought more wood. I was quickly burning through my bundle. I’d need to search for more in the morning, or head back into town. But I didn’t ever want to go back to that damned store again. I’d rather freeze to death…

When I finally collapsed in the sleeping bag, I sent a quick text to Marcia: “Here safe, absolute shit of a day. I’m heartbroken all over again. But I guess I already was, so I’m not going anywhere ‘til the time is right. Love you.”