For fifteen years he had lived alone on the edge of the national forest. He had nearly lost the place in the preceding years because of fires carelessly or deliberately started and once he'd lost the roof in a severe snow. Fortunately that week he'd left cabin to gather wood and while he was out he'd heard the thunderous crash as the roof gave way. It took him more than a week to clear out the damage and locate the sparse utensils he owned. He'd spent nearly two months replacing the roof and now the roof's pitch and reinforcement were guaranteed to be adequate for any future storm.
Woodland creatures were his friends and nothing like the real people he'd left behind, but recently he'd meant someone different. She worked in town where he sometimes picked up the few outside supplies he ever needed. She, too was lonely he thought and he'd spoken to her. He was fluent no longer and his language skills were now marginal but he'd managed and she'd responded.
He'd walked eleven miles each way to see her once a week and their friendship blossomed. He'd learned about her failed marriages and some serious ills that routinely plagued her, but she was genuine. She liked work and was good in home skills as well. Best of all, after awhile, he'd decided that he liked her because she liked him. Now he'd had choices to make.
Can a man live alone and not desire? Can he be a lone cabin in a secluded forest? Fierce mountain creatures patrol the mountain and the gentle doe feeds on soft green grass outside his door. He opens the door to watch before venturing out. He's cautious and hopes his approach will not frighten or drive away. The doe raises her head, her ears and sniffs the air. In his hand he holds a clump of the fresher grass from the stream's edge and extends it toward her. She pauses and looks around cautiously and seeing no concern she reaches forth and he feels her nose nuzzle his hand as she accepts.
How must a lady feel who has been lashed by life's lasting storm, faced abuse, neglect and rejection? The storm has passed and she is cold and wet from its fury, but she looks up and sees the sun. Her body warms and her tattered clothes dry, and soon she feels renewed and begins to care. She toils at each chance and develops her talents and strives to achieve, rejecting the next storm before it arrives. Her body matures and her beauty survives in soul and face. She embraces life for the first time.
