An Alaskan Midnight

Epilogue

"Mother, I have to go up there!" Lucy cried. 

"But Lucy, you know that if you do, the church will not accept you. And who knows if they'll make us disown you," her mother pleaded.

"I know Mother, but there's something wrong. I can feel it." With that she slung the backpack across her shoulders and ran off into the pelting rain.

Now it was springtime, and Brett and Eddy were long dead. Even though Eddy couldn't write her, something in her gut told her he was not doing well.

When she arrived, she immediately asked around in the small town, hoping to find out where he was. Most people did not know him -- that is, except for a postal guy from out in the country who was coming through town to get some groceries.

Immediately his worn face surrendered to tears. "When Brett didn't come to get his mail when the blizzard stopped, I knew something was wrong. So I went to the house, and I saw him..." His voice cracked. "Dead in the snow. And Eddy was with him. I gave them a proper burial along with the dogs, I just... Why didn't I trust my gut something was wrong and come before it was too late?!" At this moment he broke down.

After vainly trying to comfort him, Lucy requested, with tears in her own eyes, "Can you bring me to the house?"
The postman nodded. "Of course miss," he croaked.

When she arrived to the small cabin, she saw the abandoned sled, still out in front of the house. Turning the knob, she creaked the door open. She stepped into the house, every step piercing into the eery quiet. The postman had stayed behind in the truck, still too upset about his friend's death to go in.

"Eddy," she whispered, brushing her hand along the two violin cases on the floor. "In all of your letters, you talked about this man. Brett. He sounds like an incredible person. I wish I could have met him." She wiped away a tear. "But it's almost like... I feel him here. Like I know him." She broke down. "And I can feel you here too."

She opened Eddy's violin case, holding the instrument in her arms and brushing her fingers along the strings. It was desperately cracked and out of tune. But its soul, the musical essence it held was still there. And Eddy's presence.

Then she opened the desk, something beckoning her to the spot. In the drawer lay a small stack of letters, all written in Eddy's familiar cursive. Soon she realized that Eddy had written her these letters every day, in a hope he could give them to her one day. And he certainly did, just not in the way anybody expected.

She walked out the door.

"Sir," she whispered. "I think I'm going to stay here for the night."

The postman nodded and drove off, still crying.

As the day descended into dusk, she looked up at the stars. She could feel Eddy's presence, up there, comforting her. And she could feel Brett, the man she had never met but knew in her heart.

"Brett and Eddy," she whispered. "Thank you, for showing me what real life and love is. Thank you for giving me courage to stand up for myself and find freedom."
In that moment she smiled. Before, she was too scared to even go on a research trip with Eddy. Now here she was, in one of the harshest climates in the world, embracing it. He had given her courage to stand up and think for herself. 

I only wish I could have learned this with you still here, she whispered.

From that day on, she stayed in Alaska. The postman offered to bring her back, but she decided to stay. Every morning, she would read one of the letters Eddy gave her, feeling his presence. Every night, she would gaze up at the stars, thinking about him and that mysterious yet wonderful friend. And by the time winter came, she knew exactly what to do. From reading the letters Eddy wrote, she learned how to build a fire, clean fish, and do other essential things to survive. And she always remembered to cut five stacks instead of three.

Thank you for reading this story!  I appreciate your support and suggestions!