WINTERING

Chapter 5: Sincerity Is Scary

THAT DAY

HARPER'S POV: Today, I decided to walk in the forest with Rusty. As we were strolling along, Rusty suddenly ran off, chasing after a squirrel. I became panicked, afraid that I had lost my beloved companion. I followed his paw prints in the snow for a couple of minutes. Eventually, to my surprise, Rusty returned with a man in tow. "I'm Duncan." He says. "I'm Harper," I say. Duncan then apologized for startling me and promised to keep an eye out for Rusty in the future. I thanked him profusely. I couldn't help but notice how perfect he looked — tall and built, with chiseled features and a confident aura. I couldn't deny the attraction I felt towards him. In desperation, I began talking more. We found that we had a lot in common — the love for nature and our troubled pasts, and funny enough, we both have a bit of a rebellious streak.

I couldn't help but feel a connection with Duncan. It felt amazing. There's a long pause of Duncan petting Rusty and he breaks the silence and says, "I never had a dog before," Duncan said with a slight chuckle. "Really?" I say, somewhat shocked. "Unfortunately, yes. I'm always on the move. Due to my job. But one day, I hope I'll settle down with a companion." He smiles shyly. "Would you like me to get you back to the path?" Duncan asks. "Yeah, I'd like that. I just moved here in town, and I'm afraid I don't know my way around yet." I say, blushing with embarrassment. "Okay." He nods confidently. As we walk briefly and finally reach the path Rusty, and I originally planned to go on. "Thanks so much for getting us back here, Duncan. Rusty and I should be able to take it from here."

There's a pause and a brief silence. "I appreciate this a lot. So, thank you." I said with a bright smile. "I live across the lake from you. You'll probably see me in town or outside chopping wood. You can always bring Rusty over. I've got many sticks in my yard that I'd think he'd like." Duncan says warmly. "That's you? How nice! Maybe you can show me around town sometime? I'm sure Rusty would love to see you again." I say blushing. Then, Rusty stands up against Duncan's leg, wishing to be petted. Duncan bends down to pet him while saying, "Yeah, that's me over there. Well, I'll see you around then, huh?" Duncan smiles and turns away. "Yeah, I will," I say while waving goodbye to Duncan. "It was wonderful meeting you, Harper," Duncan says with a deep rasp. After that, we parted ways.

SOLID TIME PASSES

HARPER'S POV: As the cool winter breeze whistled through the trees, I couldn't help but feel grateful for the warm and cozy cabin I called home. I've always enjoyed the quiet and solitude of the forest, but today was different. I had a visitor. Duncan, my charming neighbor, had stopped by for a chat. "I have a surprise for Rusty," he said with a mischievous smile. Curious, I followed him outside, where I saw a brand new leash and collar for Rusty.

As Rusty eagerly sniffed and inspected his new accessories, Duncan explained that he had noticed Rusty's old leash looked worn and thought he deserved an upgrade. Duncan's thoughtfulness touched me, and Rusty seemed to love his new leash. From that day on, Duncan would often spoil Rusty with toys and treats, and Rusty's love for him only seemed to grow. I wasn't bitter. I was grateful. I had gained a wonderful neighbor and a loving friend for my dog. We continued to take long walks together, I couldn't help but feel grateful for the unlikely bond that had formed between Duncan and Rusty. I swore that the two had a special connection, and I was glad to be a part of it.

Then, there's an interruption in my thoughts. "Would you like to come inside?" I ask him. "Yes." He says eagerly. We had been casually acquainted for a while now, but we never really had a chance to sit down and get to know each other. So when he knocked on my door this afternoon, I was pleasantly surprised. I welcomed him in, and as we settled down on the couch, I couldn't help but notice how handsome he looked in the soft glow of the fire. I offered him a steaming cup of hot cocoa, and we began talking about our hobbies and interests. As we exchanged stories and laughed over shared experiences, I couldn't shake off the feeling of familiarity with him. It felt like we had known each other for a long time, and the comfortable silence between us was proof of that.

As our conversation meandered onto pets, I couldn't resist showing him pictures of my dog, Rusty. I had adopted him from the local shelter a year ago, and he had brought so much joy into my life. To my surprise, Duncan revealed that he also had a love for animals. He explained he had a tough job and never had the time to keep a pet. On a day like this, Rusty proved to be the best dog for me. I'm happy to admit Duncan developed a friendship with him since that day. Duncan often came to my cabin to play with Rusty and take him for walks. Every time Rusty saw him, his tail would wag furiously, and he would kiss Duncan.

As much as I loved seeing Rusty happy, I couldn't help but feel slightly jealous. I wanted to kiss Duncan too. Our time seemed to fly by, and before we knew it, the sun had started to set. As we prepared to bid our farewells, Duncan suggested we take Rusty for a walk in the woods. I was surprised but also delighted by the idea. It felt like the perfect end to our afternoon together. We wrapped up in warm coats and ventured out into the crisp air, with Rusty leading the way. As we strolled through the beautiful scenery, with the trees painting a magnificent fall landscape,

Duncan and I talked about our dreams and aspirations. It was during this walk that Duncan asked me a question that took me by surprise. He asked me if I would be interested in getting to know him further. My heart raced with excitement, and I was at a loss for words. It had been a long time since I had felt this way about someone, and with a beaming smile, I said yes. After this, Duncan and I became inseparable. Our love for animals brought us together, but it was our shared values and passions that cemented our relationship. We would often return to that same spot in the woods, where Rusty had played a crucial role in bringing us together.