Deep in the heart of the wilderness, far removed from the clamour and chaos of civilization, Allister had led a life of solitude. He was born in a rustic cabin, grew up in the same place, and took over the homestead after his parents had passed away.
The quiet man had no kin or companions to speak of; he was content with the company of the woods, its creatures and trees, which had always been enough for him. Once, in his youth, he ventured out to the nearest town and worked as a farmer for a time. It was during this period that he met Beatrice, or "the girl," as he fondly remembered her.
Allister fell for Beatrice the moment he set eyes on her: her wild, curly brown hair that refused to be tamed, her almond-colored eyes that sparkled with mischief, and her kind, gentle smile. The years they spent together were the happiest of his life, but their sudden end shattered his world. Beatrice was full of life, but some things were not meant to be. They had planned to marry, to fulfill their shared dreams and aspirations, but alas, it was not to be.
Before she passed away, Beatrice, even in her frail state, held Allister's hand and told him to let go of his sorrow, to not let her death extinguish his will to live. She encouraged him to seek out someone else, someone better than her, but in his heart, Allister knew that no one could replace Beatrice. She was laid to rest beneath her favorite oak tree, and the funeral was a solemn, beautiful event attended by many who loved her. Her life had been full of promise, cut short, and her passing had left a broken man behind.
Unable to bear staying in the place where he had shared so many precious moments with Beatrice, Allister returned to his parents' cabin. As his father grew older, Allister took over his position as the forest ranger, wandering the woods for years on end. He spoke little, preferring the solitude of the wilderness to human company.
Eventually his parents too passed away, and he was truly left alone. Allister was not someone who would consider ending his own life, he owed it to dear Beatrice to live a long life. She had wanted more for him, but the best he could do was to simply live.
The forest became his salvation in a way, as the years passed by, one season after another, he developed a deep connection.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
His sense of the world bordering on the supernatural to those rare visitors, hunters and hikers came to roam his woods from time to time, and he sometimes acted as a guide.
He knew the animals and they knew him, and his little cabin was often visited by the denizens of the woods.
In the depths of the forest, Allister found solace in an unexpected companion - an old grizzly bear. The massive creature had taken up residence in the area and had somehow formed a bond with the solitary man. As Allister fished in the large lakes that crisscrossed the forest, the bear would approach, and instead of running away, Allister simply tossed his fish to the bear and went right back to fishing.
In a silent understanding, the bear would lie down closeby and munch on the fat salmon, while Allister continued to fish. Together, they existed in companionable silence, the man and the bear. Other bears would occasionally appear, but the old grizzly made sure that Allister was never in any danger. The bear would even come and sleep outside the cabin, and they would take long walks in the woods. It seemed that the old bear simply wanted a companion, and Allister was happy to oblige him.
However, as fate would have it, the old bear eventually passed away. Once again, Allister found himself alone in his forest. As the years passed, his body grew weaker, and even simple tasks became hard labor. He spent more and more time in his old cabin, and visitors grew even scarcer than before. Only a TV crew had visited once, filming a show called 'The life of a modern day Hermit'. Allister didn't mind the company, but was happy to see them leave.
With the passing of time, Allister knew that his own time was drawing near. But he didn't fear death - he hadn't for a very long time. All he hoped for was to be reunited with his dear Beatrice, who had always wanted more for him. If she wasn't waiting for him somewhere, he hoped that she was happy wherever she was. It had always been his biggest wish.
Allister lay in his creaky old bed, his body frail and tired after a lifetime of adventure and solitude. His patched blanket covered him, providing a small comfort in the cold cabin. He gazed up at the familiar ceiling, decorated with the cracks and scars of years gone by.
A deep sigh escaped his lips, filled with both acceptance and relief. He had known for some time that his journey was coming to an end, and he was ready to embrace it. Allister had lived a long and fulfilling life, but he was tired now, ready to join his beloved Beatrice in the great beyond.
As his eyes slowly closed, he felt a sense of peace wash over him. His energy began to ebb away, his soul drifting towards the great unknown. It was a bittersweet moment, one of both sadness and release. But Allister was content, knowing that he had lived a life true to himself and the forest that had sustained him.