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.
