There's No Such Thing as Second Chances

Eric

I opened my eyes and noticed that the sun was rising with its rays filling up the room. I wasn't sure how long I've been out but I was actually feeling a lot better and more like myself.

I glanced around the room and noticed that the man who helped me was nowhere in sight.

I groaned and looked around. I needed to go pee and wasn't quite sure where I should go. I didn't see a bathroom anywhere but I hadn't exactly explored the whole cabin. Maybe there was a back part I didn't know of.

I kicked my feet off the bed and tried to lift myself up slowly.

As soon as I stepped down I felt the whole world turn.

"Whoa, easy there" strong hands engulfed my body and pulled me up. "You shouldn't try to walk on your own yet"

He sat me back on the bed and looked at me with worry.

"Sorry, I just need to use the bathroom and I'm not sure where I should go" I asked sheepishly, somewhat embarrassed about my predicament.

"Well, that's going to be interesting because you'll need to go out there" he pointed outside and chuckled. "I can get you a bowl though"

"No...god no" I wasn't going to pee in a bowl, "could you help me get out there?"

Without answering he swooped me off my feet and carried me out behind a bush. 

"I'm going to set you down, when you're good to stand on your own let me know" he gave me a reassuring nod.

Humiliation pushed me through the experience and I was done in seconds.

He carried me back in and placed me by the sink. I was grateful for the effort and used the cold water to wash my hands and face. That little bit helped me feel rejuvenated.

I decided to try walking to the bed and was proud of myself for making it. I was exhausted and sore, but felt triumphant.

"Here" he handed me a bowl of soup and smiled kindly. "I'm Eric by the way"

"Charlie" I used the spoon to pick out a chunk of potato and ate it "so what is this place?"

"It's my home, not traditional but it's all mine" he grinned.

"No toilet? I couldn't survive." I smiled back.

"You'd be surprised on how much a person can handle when needed." He looked deep in thought before he continued, "like you for example"

"Shit. How long have I been out?" Panic started to rise within me as I made a realization.

"Three days, you need to calm down before you hurt yourself" worry spread through him as he placed a hand on my shoulder to keep me in place.

"My mom. She probably thinks I'm dead" tears started to pool in my eyes, "I need to let her know I'm ok. Have you told anyone you found me?"

"Not yet. I don't exactly get cell service out here, and the road to the closest town is out of service right now due to the storm. We need a few dry days and I can take you there, until then there is nothing we can do" he looked at me sympathetically and urged me to eat, "you need to get your strength up before I even think of putting you in the jeep. If something happens and we need to hike, you won't make it for more than five minutes"

"You don't have a satellite phone or whatever they're called?" I was hopeful.

"No, I came out here to be away from it all. I never felt a need to have one" he shrugged.

"What if something happened to you, how would you let anyone know?" I couldn't believe someone who lived out in such a remote are would be so reckless.

"If something happened to me I'd accept my fate. By the time anyone would make it out here to help me I'd be gone anyways. I check into town every few weeks, if I didn't show someone would eventually find me" he finished his bowl of soup and placed it in the sink, "do you want more?"

"No, thank you" I finished up and passed him my bowl. "I can't believe this is happening. Thank you for saving me, I don't imagine I would have made it if it wasn't for you"

"I've gone back to where I found you, at least thirty times, hoping I would see someone else. I can't believe that you crossed so much water and ended up here. That's miles." He ran his fingers through his hair and shook his head in disbelief. "It just defies any sense of logic"

"Growing up, my mother always joked that I had nine lives. The way she tells it is that I had a brush in with death every single day" my heart hurt thinking about her, "maybe I will get a cat when I return, I feel like it would be fitting at this point"

"Oh god no...dogs are defiantly better" he smirked, his grey eyes piercing into mine, "ok lay down for a bit. I'm going to gather a few things for dinner. You'll be fine if I leave?"

"Definitely" a nap seemed amazing right now and I needed to build my strength up.

He gave me one last look before he left and I closed my eyes thinking about everything that had happened.

As I replayed everything in my head the image of him kept popping in and intruding on my thoughts.

I didn't know anything about him but felt safe and comfortable in his presence.

I scolded myself for wanting to get to know him more. Somewhere out there my mother was dying with worry and I was in here day dreaming about the hunk that saved me.

With determination, I pushed every thought out of my head and let the exhaustion take over. I needed to get better so I could return home, as soon as possible, and calm my mother's fears.