Backwoods

Chapter 7

In the wee hours of the morning you prowled the dirt roads connecting your two homes in search of the missing man. You couldnt help but be worried for him, who knows what may have happened to him that made him disappear.

Swallowing nervously you pulled into the back roads that connected your two homes. Often vacant due to the dense and overgrown forest, you were startled to turn a blind corner and find the Hewitt truck left abandoned and stalled out on the side of the road.

Jumping from your car you quickly picked up on Thomas' trail. Snapped branches and disturbed leaf litter left you a perfect trail to where ever he wandered off to. Without hesitation you followed after the trail laid out before you in search of him.

The forest was eerily dense a thick fog hanging in the cool morning air through the trunks of the trees. Vision clouded by the ever thickening fog you paused often convinced a looming shadow held the man you were looking for.

You began to grow desperate as your trail grew cold and you yourself became lost looking around for any sign of where he may have gone or where you had come from.

"Thomas? Thomas!" You called out yelling into the silence of the forest. Your only response was the chatter of birds and the rustle of leaves.

Committing to a course you set off in a direction you believed he had been headed and soon enough the woods began to thin revealing a hill which up-sloped to an ancient looking willow tree. It large blooming branches covered the top of the hill protecting it from the fog fluttering about it.

Curious, you approached the hill only to make out a large shape slumped against the trunk of the tree. Heart racing, you ran up the hill, legs a fire as you stumbled to a halt feet from the slumbering man.

Glancing behind you now atop the hill, you looked out upon a fog filled waste land everything in the valley below shroud in a cloud of mystery.

You were now faced with the reality of you fate. Doomed to care for the man behind you. Though in all honestly you would not considered yourself doomed, if anything you were grateful to have met Thomas. Memories of your time spent together laughing, talking, and simply enjoying the others presence. It was enough for you both to be happy.

You let out a slow breath, before taking a deep inhale of the cool morning air as you turned to face Thomas. Still slumbering peacefully underneath the tree, perfectly fine.

Moving to stand at his side you silently lowered yourself to the ground beside him. Looking him over now in the glow of the rising dawn. You were somewhat captivated by the odd beauty he held. A new and different kind of handsome. Yours eyes wandered as did your mind as everything he had done came rushing back to you threatening to overwhelm you.

Though instead of pushing these thoughts aside as you had done the night before, you faced the reality of what he had done knowing within you the abhorrent nature of it. And you accepted it. And you accepted him.

You hesitantly reached out to shake his shoulder, your fingertips hovered over the rough flannel of his shirt as you had a momentary doubt. There would be no going back if you awoke him, you wouldn't be able to turn him away. This was your point of no return.

Your finger tips were a hair width away from his shoulder as you once more looked over the figure of Thomas sleeping in the dappled light cast by the large bows of the tree that swayed over head. Dark brown locks of hair fell over face hiding his eyes from sight. The soft curls flutter with each of his exhales.

With a final breath you placed your hand on his shoulder gently shaking him awake watching as he slowly came to before bolting up with a startled look, glancing around before his eyes finally settled on you.

You could see he had been crying, the red and watery eyes were a trait you shared as you both seemed to be torn over your current lots in life. Thomas' stared deeply into your eyes his brown ones burned with adoration.

Thomas' hand sneaked forward trembling horribly from fear as he reached for your own pressed out in front of you. Lifting your hand You met Thomas' own letting him take hold dwarfing you in his much larger hand. His thumb brushed softly over your knuckles as he let out a shaky breath.

Thomas stared at you his eyes intense as he struggled to hold your gaze. His eyes began to water in a mix of frustration and emotional distress as he struggled to make out what he wished to tell you. His voice cracked and squeaked form the strain as he held your hand just a bit tighter.

"I-I " He stuttered voice straining somewhat gruesomely from the effort he put forth as he was seemingly forcing the words from himself.

"I'm sorry" He squeaked out it seeming to spill from his lips as he looked at you with pleading eyes.

You were shocked to say the least. Sure you hadn't known him long, though in that time you had never heard a single coherent coherent word come from him. Until now, as he stared down on you with eyes pleading for forgiveness.

"I forgive you Thomas." You said softly, your voice hardly a whisper above the rising bird song around you.

Thomas pulled you into a tight embrace practically crushing you against him. He smelled sweet of the flowering tree he had been hidden under. You dissolved into the comfort brought from his touch pressing deeper into the hug.

This tender moment was sadly short lived as it was not long until you could hear the distant shouts of Hyott and Ma calling out for the both of you. Thomas sighed quietly as he held onto you desperately for a final passing moment. Giving you a final squeeze the two of you stood making your down into the clearing at the bottom of the hill. With the fog dissipating it revealed a vast field of wild flowers that had a heavenly scent. 

As you both walked to the edge of the field Thomas took your hand into his own leading the way as you both carefully made your way home. Hyott was the first to greet you both with a rude remark before turning on heel and leading you all back to the main road. 

Hyott and Ma were already preparing to leave as Thomas walked you to your car opening the door for you as you scooted inside. 

"I'll see you later Thomas..." You smiled sweetly and he nodded excitedly already stumbling away to get in his truck wanting to hurry home. Thomas wanted to spend time with you though he knew he couldnt do it in this state.

Going your separate ways for the moment you found your way home and calmed yourself after an eventful morning. Things would be different from then on you knew it, though you could already tell it would be a good change. The sound of old brakes rattling in the drive way outside alerted you to the arrival of Thomas. You weren't surprised at all that his first instinct was to come and see you. It was endearing really. Though as you opened the door you had not been expecting a large bouquet of roses and sunflowers. Memories of the past times he had brought you such a gift came back to you and a happiness filled you as Thomas followed you inside. 

Placing the flowers in an old vase you focused on centering them on the table while Thomas snacked on something he had found in your cupboard. You could get used to a life like this, the quiet life simply enjoying each day as it came and went with someone you loved.