The Cabin In The Woods

Soledad, pretty and young, stood by her window with a glass of wine. The morning rain clouded her windows and she couldn't see at all. Even if she could, it would all be grey, but somehow she knew she would be fine.

There was a nagging that ate away at her soul for weeks, even months. It grew even stronger by the hour that she felt she must go, in order to be focused enough to finish her fifteenth book. So when the rain died, she jumped on a train first thing. Before she got locked in by another round of hail and storm. To fulfill a promise she had made long ago to an old friend. A strange promise it was, on their wedding eve, when their love story ended before it even began.

"If ever I am no more, go up to cabin in the mountains with the bed of spring that turns silver in the moonlight and heats in the winter. That you may feel my love."

There were only a handful of passengers on the train. The temperature had gone up since the rain had seized and it was high noon. Outside they were passing fields ripening with corn hedges and open meadow with scarlet splashes of poppies. There were some trees bending over and tilting to one side due to the strong winds that blew from the south.

All the while her mind drifted. The memory of their first time together. That night, by a silver lake glittering in the moonlight and with the scent of summer and roses in the air. Abel showed how deeply and completely he loved her. He kissed her long flowing hair down to her little feet and never stopped worshipping her beauty and confessing his unending love for her.

They couldn't stop singing the songs of love that rang in their ears and the sweet laughter that escaped their united hearts. It felt like they flew to the moon on the wings of love and they played among the stars. Soledad felt so happy and content with the world.

She had always been a ravishing beauty, clever writer and sweetheart altogether. Abel was a young handsome soilder, strong in the face of battle but humbled by her grace.

They would sit out under the stars talking for hours. "I've poured out my heart into my writing and have spent years honing my craft, yet nothing happens..." He would kiss her hair and assure her that she was the world's greatest. Then remind her that great things take time and how he adored her books. In a while, she would smile again and he would tell her of some of his adventures.

"You're always so brave, Abel. I love how safe I feel with you." She said breathily.

"Till my last breath, I will protect you from bugs and terrible creatures of the forest." He teased and she playfully shoved him.

"Little bastard. You helped me kill a baby spider in the bedroom that one time and just won't let it go."

He laughed. "Cuz you refused to get in the house by one in the morning till I found it and destroyed it."

She laughed too and snuggled beside him. He hugged her tightly.

"On the force, I'm hardened and ruthless because we were trained to withstand the most gruesome things." She was staring up at him with such admiration and such love that he knew she was the one for him.

"But I tell you Soledad, the day I lose you is the day you'll see a grown man cry. You are my weakness and you alone can hurt me." He stroked her hair as her eyes moistened with tears. "It scares me so much to lose you because I'll spend the rest of my life searching in vain for another love of my life."

"I love you, Abel, with all my strength. There's no one else I'd rather live my best and worst days with."

Anyone who knew them, knew what love looked like. That's why there was a great shock when he disappeared without a trace, on the most important day of their lives. No goodbyes, not a single word was said. No final kiss to seal anything. On their wedding day.

Soledad knew she wasn't perfect but she tried her best to be for him. They went on with the preparations because it was too late. The wedding cards had been sent, the planners already had the buffet ready and decorations hanging and cute little white chairs set. The bride too was there looking a vision of beauty in her white dress and the only thing missing was the groom. Soledad stood there at the aisle with her bouquet of roses, watching the door eagerly. Ingnoring the grumbling of the guests or of friends asking about Abel.

Right when she was about to lose hope, someone burst through the doors. It was one of his aide's, with a letter in one hand.

"Dear Soledad,

I know we were to marry today but I had to change my plans.

I've gone overseas to fight in a battle to protect the land of my fathers. I may not make it back. Please don't wait for me."

Soledad fell to the ground and tears fell from her eyes like rain. It was devastating for all to see, such a beautiful bride on what was to be her special day. Soledad refused to be consoled and had to be carried home and sedated.

Her friend all said she didn't deserve the humiliation of being stood up on her wedding. All she ever did was love him, she didn't deserve to be punished. They didn't know of his plans to leave either.

For months, Soledad refused food, she couldn't sleep and all she ever did was cry. There was not a single happy day in her life.

At night when the moon was up and it's light flooded her room from the parted curtains, she'd sit for hours staring at the skies, hoping he was somewhere faraway doing the same. She remembered how much he loved the simple things in life.

Every night, for months she would stand, remembering, longing, waiting. Even when it snowed, she would stand in the balcony watching the stars. She would drink all her wine till it hurt her tummy, trying to feel the hole he left. The agony that lingered in her heart that reminded her that Abel was real and their passionate love was not just her a dream.

She lost who she was waiting for him to return home and after four years of silence, Soledad moved on. Not resulting from her friends' advice, or what the therapist said but till she was able to kill every feeling thing in her body so Able won't have access to hurt her anymore. The hardest part was accepting she didn't mean to him as much as he did to her and it was okay. She forgave him.

Soledad travelled far away and gave her self to writing. She opened her wounded heart and bled on all the pages. She shared her pain with the world and thousands were buying them off shelves and reading them on the internet. She never stopped writing and travelling and seeing new places to write about, to experience a glimpse of the europhia she had with him. At a point, the luster of sudden fame and wealth and public admiration was not enough to satisfy the emptiness in her soul. So Soledad decided to pay her final tribute to Abel by fulfilling the promise she made long ago.

As Soledad stepped off the dusty old train onto the platform, all the memories came rushing back. Since she left, she returned once, to attend Abel's burial. He died in battle and was buried with honors. She remembered her bitterness and resentfulness overpowering the grief she felt for him. Since he died, it seemed, everyone left. Wildergrove, the heart of celebration, the town of victory, the home of everyone. Wildergrove, what an empty place it had come to be.

"Oh Abel, if only you could see the tears you left behind. If only you could heal my heart just one more time." Soledad whispered sadly and followed a worn path that led to the cabin up in the hills.

The warm wind rustled through the leaves and she could almost hear the his laughter rustle through the tall trees towering high above her. She caught sight of the tranquil haven that has been their love nest many years ago. Surrounded by trees and flowers, birds and beasts of every kind, it seemed tucked away in the very bosom of nature.

Soledad mounted the two steps that led to the front porch. When she pushed open the door, she was taken aback from the musty air. She didn't shut the door incase she ran into a bear or gang of thieves and needed to make a quick run for it.

The floorboards creaked under her pricey leather boots as she walked around, remembering her old home. The paintings on the wall and miniatures and books on their shelf were inch deep in dust.

She stopped by the stone hearth. Turning around, her heart stopped. There in the dimly lit living room, sitted by the window, was Abel. Soledad reached fast for the mantle piece to support her incredibly weak legs. She blinked to make sure she wasn't hallucinating as a result of her grief but he was there. By the window, on his old recliner. His smile was as real as you and I, and his eyes as blue as the tumultuous waves of a winter storm.

"Abel?" Soledad whispered, disbelief choking her voice.

"It's really me," He said softly. "I couldn't leave this place, not when you promised to visit again."

Soledad rushed to him, her legs and arms wobbling. Tears of disbelief streamed down her cheeks as she felt his presence, like he was truly there.

"Oh Abel!" Soledad muttered amidst the tears, remembering the terrible sufferings she endured thinking she lost him forever. They were clasped against each other passionately and his sweet familiar smell went straight to her head. She could feel the warmth of his body and the heat of his love.

They pulled apart for a moment. He put one had behind her head and used the other one to gently wipe her tears. It felt very tender. Then he left sweet kisses on her eyes, nose tip and trembling lips till she felt greatly cherished.

"Did you truly love me?"

Abel frowned. He looked hurt. "Don't ever think that, Soledad."

"Then why Abel? You disappeared and hurt me so terribly." She sobbed.

He was silent for a while. Then looked out the window. "I received a promotion at work I would have been able to give you the life you deserved..."

She held his hands, causing him to meet her eyes. "I was happy with what little we had."

"I got excited and let a round of shots into the air. Then someone dropped dead. It was all so sudden, and even when I was locked away in the cell, I knew I would get the life sentence but all I could think was poor Soledad. It made me miserable knowing I failed you. You always looked at me with love and admiration and I couldn't stand the thought of you looking at me in any other way. And I promise you, I suffered for it. Every tear you shed tormented me deep in my soul. The cell was so cold and lonely and my life was threatened many times. I missed your laugh, your softness and how you believed in me more than I did. I knew I had lost you. The ache in my heart was so great, it killed me."

"But...but...I was told you died at the battle front. You were buried with honors."

"I was a good man. It was the least they could do."

"Oh Abel! I'm so sorry you had to deal with all that alone. My love for you is greater than all of life's storms." She said and hugged him again.

They shared their stories, of their time apart, of the afterlife and the mysterious ways of the universe. They comforted each other and laughed and found themselves falling in love again. For a moment, the line between life and death seemed to blur.

In the same cabin they had lived together, in the fields where they shared their dreams as children, they made new promises to learn to be happy again, to be generous and kind, knowing that in some way greater their own wisdom, they would always find a way to each other.

As the sun outside dipped below the horizon, brushing the skies with shades of tangerine and blue, Abel's presence began to fade. He grew fainter and Soledad's tears fell like rain. "I have to go now, dearest." He said, with a quiver in his voice.

"No Abel, I beg you don't leave me again." She cried.

"I'll always be with you in your heart." He said and faded away like a dream. Soledad was left in the cabin, the emptiness in her heart more profound than ever. She had fulfilled her promise but Abel's final visit deepened the void he left in her heart.

With a wistful smile, Soledad sat on his chair and stared out the window. Over the darkening mountains at the warm colours melting into each other in the aftermath of the sunset. She felt reassured he would always be with her.

Whenever she missed him or felt to kiss him, all she had to do was dream. When she had a bad day, or was drowning in loneliness all she needed do was dream. When she wanted him and his charms, to hold her through the night, whenever she wanted him, all she had to do was dream. They were happy again. The only problem was, dear God, she was dreaming her life away!