I belong to me

The unwanted visitor

Finally reaching the small log cabin I felt a sense of relief washing over me. The smoke coming out of the chimney told me that the supper was cooking and I stopped for a minute to catch my breath before entering. It was to embarassing to show my flushed face and messy hair, due to the running like a madwoman through the forest. I felt like a child afraid of fictional monsters lurking behind trees. Since when had I been afraid of the dark? My brother would laugh at me, and I would too probably but only when the cold sweat on my back had dried. Then this would be funny. But it wasn't funny now. The sun had gone down and only the a thin shimmering line was left, making the forest around me almost pitch black. I took a long breath but before I went inside I looked around. Was there someone out there? I sharpened my eyes. I envisioned seeing eyes in the dark. Quickly I spun around and went inside the log cabin. The warmth of the fire inside reminded me of how cold I was.

"There you are. I was almost beginning to worry about you" My brother turned his head and looked at me and winked. "Almost." He had a darker shade of my coppercolored hair, almost reaching his shoulders. His brown eyes had begun to be surrounded laugh lines, and his 29 years had started showing.

"Well, you know me, always forgetting time when I pick herbs." I laughed and it sounded awkward. I didn't want to tell him about my experience because it was so embarrasing.

"Here." I opened my bag and poured it's content out on our wooden table. "I found some clover, burdock, chicory, dandelion and different mushrooms."

"Fantastic!" He said cheerfully. I organised the herbs and hung them up on a string to dry. This would be great to add in a stew later on I thought to myself. My brother was a fairly good cook and it really smelled great. I peaked over his shoulder to get a look at our supper.

"It's rabbit." He said and poured some into two bowls. "I found it in the trap this afternoon."

I kinda felt bad for the poor rabbit, but we needed to eat and I couldn't deny how the smell made my stomach grumble.

"It looks great, Edgard." I told my brother. We sat down on each wooden stool at the table and began to eat. The rabbit was tender and soft. It tasted like heaven, probably because I hadn't eaten since breakfast.

"So." Edgard began. "Want to tell me why you looked so wide eyed when you came in tonight?"

I paused midway with my spoon dripping stew into the bowl. What should I say? Well Edgard, I thought I was being followed by something and now I'm scared of the dark. No, that didn't feel like an option. I looked at him and just shrugged.

"I tripped and almost fell. Besides, it was very cold outside. Feels like fall is coming sooner then we'd thought." Thankfully this made my brother change subject.

"Then I'd better start filling up the food storage." I nodded and continued eating while staring down. "And I also need to cut up more firewood so we don't end up like we did last winter."

I remembered that horrific winter. It snowed so much and we didn't have enough dry firewood. It was so cold that my hands often became numb. I shuddered just thinking about it.

"Yes please, that was the worst time of my life." I sighed. Well, it probably was much worser when my parents passed away but I was too young to remember. I glanced at Edgard who silently ate his stew. My heart clenched a little. "I'm sorry, it has been worse for us, especially for you. But I'm glad that I can only say that a cold winter is my worst memory."

Edgard looked up with a smal smile on his lips.

"I'm also glad about that."

We ate in an companionable silent after that. I'd always, almost, enjoyed my life. Being out in the forest collecting herbs, working in our small garden and just being around my elder brother. My father had built this log cabin with his own hands and now that it was only me and my brother left I never wanted to leave. Everything was perfect. Well, almost perfect.