Hello, here another story ! Hope you all enjoy it!
Caleb had spent his entire life in the forest. He was familiar with the sounds and cries of animals, as well as their movements. But he didn’t expect to hear the footsteps of another human being, and a very beautiful one at that.
It had been two hours since nightfall, and Caleb, cleaning his hunting rifle, was thinking about his hunt the next day. Today, he hadn’t had the luck to catch his prey and had to settle for wild berries and plants, which he cooked into a soup for dinner. Lately, it wasn’t uncommon for Caleb to return empty-handed. During the winter months, animals tend to take shelter in their homes, and most of the plants disappear. Fortunately, there are still some edible plants that allow Caleb to survive for a while.
As he cleaned his rifle, Caleb let out a sigh. What troubled the 27-year-old man most these days was not the lack of food or the freezing cold during his outings, but the overwhelming feeling of loneliness he had been experiencing more and more.
Having never known anything other than the forest and having lived his whole life with his mother until she passed away, Caleb had never had contact with another human being. However, the stories his mother told him as a child gave him hope that one day he too could find his "happily ever after."
Currently, he had been alone for over five years and had not crossed paths with anyone in the heart of the forest. Caleb always left his cabin hoping that one day he might meet someone—an acquaintance, or even better, a potential partner. The more time passed, the more Caleb lost hope of meeting his soulmate, and he began to accept the fact that he would eventually die alone in the cabin, in the middle of nowhere, where no one would ever find him...
That’s what he thought until today. While Caleb was inside his cabin, tending to his weapon and lost in thought, he heard a knock at the door. Surprised, he looked toward the door. Had he imagined the sound? Had solitude driven him mad?
As he questioned himself, a second knock rang out.
“Good evening, is anyone there? I’ve gotten lost in the forest. Could you please help me?”
Caleb stood up abruptly, knocking his chair over, and rushed to the door, opening it with a quick motion, startling the stranger on the other side.
After a moment of awkward silence, the stranger spoke again.
“Sorry to bother you. My name is (y/o). I got separated from my hiking group and I can’t find my way back. Would it be possible to stay the night here?”
Caleb stood frozen, a look of surprise and wonder on his face. This was the first person he had encountered, aside from his late mother. He had never seen, nor imagined, anyone as beautiful as this, with their expression of embarrassment mixed with concern. Caleb felt like he was facing an angel, the mythical creature his mother had once told him about.
In a detached, almost dreamy tone, Caleb stepped aside to let his guest in and said,
“I have a room where you can sleep. Please come in.”
The guest smiled and thanked him with a look of gratitude.
The inside of the cabin was warm, the fireplace illuminating the entire space with an orange glow. Next to it, there was a sofa with an armchair and a coffee table. A table stood three meters ahead, with a rifle resting on top and a chair on the floor. Further on, there was an open kitchen with some herbs in jars. For (y/o), the house was simple, small, but enough for a couple or even a small family.
Caleb watched as his guest entered his home, hoping they would appreciate the interior. For him, (y/o) was his soulmate, and he had no doubt about it. No one would be able to find him in the forest—it had to be destiny!
“Your house is very nice!”
Caleb hurriedly closed the door while (y/o) continued to take in the surroundings. He locked the door and tucked the key into his pocket near his chest. He turned to (y/o).
“Thank you. I’ll show you to your room, please follow me.”
(y/o) turned to him. (y/o)'s host wasn’t very talkative, but when their gazes met, they felt as if they were facing a predator. There was an intensity in his eyes, an emotion so strong, similar to the emotion in the eyes of a husband gazing at his wife.
Caleb walked ahead of (y/o), and they hurried to follow him. He led them to a medium-sized room with a wardrobe, a vanity, and a bed. On the vanity, there were jewelry and women’s accessories.
“Do you live with your partner?”
“No, I live alone. This was my mother’s room.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you.”
The death of his mother had deeply affected Caleb, but with (y/o) there with him, he no longer felt sorrow for her.
“You can make yourself at home, feel free to use the wardrobe and vanity. The shower and toilets are down the hall, at the end on the right, and my room is across from the living room. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask me.”
“Thank you again, sir...?”
“Caleb. You can call me Caleb.”
“Thank you very much, Caleb. I think I’ll go to bed now.”
Caleb nodded and then left the room, closing the door behind him. Despite what (y/o) might think, Caleb wasn’t going to help her find her group. Destiny had sent him his deepest desire—his soulmate, with whom he intended to spend the rest of his life. When (y/o) had fallen asleep, Caleb quietly opened the door to their room and placed a simple kiss on their forehead.
Then he closed the door. It had been years since Caleb had been this happy. With a smile on his face, he prepared the supplies he would need in the coming days. If (y/o)’s story was true, there might be others trying to steal his love, and Caleb would never allow anyone to take his treasure.
It was time for him to use his rifle and traps for something other than hunting.
