out of the way section of the preserve: sunday afternoon
There was absolutely no way that Nathan was going to spend his day inside. The weather had cooled and the way the air felt reminded him of Wales. It wasn't the same, Nathan knew, but it was something close. He could close his eyes and just imagine Gabriel being there, smiling at him and telling him stories from books that Nathan couldn't read. He could imagine Arran being there, excitedly explaining the different flowers and animals to Nathan while he listened and just felt content to be in his brother's company.
Nathan thought of Deborah and her husband and wondered if they had children yet. Was he an uncle? Would he ever get to meet anyone like that? He even thought of Jessica and felt no regret or remorse for what he'd done to her so long ago.
Right now, all he felt was contentment. It was a strange feeling that he couldn't remember experiencing recently. Maybe the last time had been with the sheepskins on Gabriel's balcony. Maybe it had been even before them but it didn't matter.
Right now, he felt okay. The little spot he'd carved out for himself in the preserve was shaded and warm. There were thick blankets on the ground and others hanging on ropes that he'd strung from tree to tree to give him some shelter. He'd washed his clothes this morning so they were hanging on one of those ropes, drying out. He'd gotten some food from town and was currently sitting comfortably against a tree, the tablet in his lap and the pizza slices on a plate beside him.
It wasn't Wales but it was close.
[Open, if you're in the preserve for any reason]
Nathan thought of Deborah and her husband and wondered if they had children yet. Was he an uncle? Would he ever get to meet anyone like that? He even thought of Jessica and felt no regret or remorse for what he'd done to her so long ago.
Right now, all he felt was contentment. It was a strange feeling that he couldn't remember experiencing recently. Maybe the last time had been with the sheepskins on Gabriel's balcony. Maybe it had been even before them but it didn't matter.
Right now, he felt okay. The little spot he'd carved out for himself in the preserve was shaded and warm. There were thick blankets on the ground and others hanging on ropes that he'd strung from tree to tree to give him some shelter. He'd washed his clothes this morning so they were hanging on one of those ropes, drying out. He'd gotten some food from town and was currently sitting comfortably against a tree, the tablet in his lap and the pizza slices on a plate beside him.
It wasn't Wales but it was close.
[Open, if you're in the preserve for any reason]