The Mountain Man

 A large wooden box shook in Spencer's hands. Raindrops kissed the engraved name on the box's lid. Charlie. Heavy breathes roared in Spencer's chest, tears mixed with rain. The top of the hill peaked from the surrounding forest, making Spencer look small. To himself, Spencer began to speak.

   "Dang it Charlie, you couldn’t go out without making a mess of things first, huh? I’m still cleaning up the mess. It’s everywhere!"

Tears choked the lumberjack. Memories of his brother Charlie, soaked with the events earlier that week.

   "Holding this box still doesn’t feel real. How can someone be here one moment, then be a pile of ash the next?!" Glaring at the box, Spencer sobbed. "Charlie, you were my best friend. We were so close. Too close, even mom thought so. Now, look at what you are"! Wiping some more rain off the box, Spencer's worked hands gripped tighter.

   "They found the biggest box they could. The woman said she’s never seen a body as tall as yours. You freaking big-footed fool." Going to open the box, a faint scream travels through the thick pines.

   Realizing he's the only one for miles, Spencer pulls himself into a run. Slipping on mud only to catch himself on a few unsuspecting rocks. The screams grow closer as he works through tripping and sliding.

   "Hold on." He grinds his teeth.

   Flying through the trees that line a paved street, Spencer sees nothing but chaos. A split tree and a smashed, red truck litter a sharp turn. The driver's head punched through the front window, and a girl lying in the middle of the road. Spencer swears aloud and runs to the bleeding girl.

   Her broken body whines underneath his hands, picking her up against him. She faintly asks for someone, Spencer can only assume that it’s the man dead through the window. Pulling out his walkie-talkie, he radios the near-by fire station. Looking back at the stranger, Spencer finds the courage to help.

   “You need to keep talking. You need to stay awake.”

   The girl squeezes her eyes hard, wishing the pain away. “My Betty.”

   “Nice to meet you, Betty.” Spencer sighs. “I’m Spencer.” Realizing the rain will make her condition worse, he takes her to the car to find a blanket.

   “Pain, in my hip.” Betty whines.

   “It’s my brother, he tends to be a pain in the side.” Tears blur his vision. “He died earlier this week.”

   “I’m sorry. I just lost mine too.” Betty grips the retrieved blanket, struggling to control her tears.

   Embracing her closer to him, Spencer watches the fire truck swing the corner. Helping them get Betty to a nearby hospital, Spencer is attacked with questions. Answering the best he could he turns to go home. A frantic nurse runs out and takes Spencer by the arm. Before he could protest, a gentle voice comes from the up-coming room asking for,

“The man that saved my life.”

Betty was wrapped in a white blanket and had tied her hair into a bun. Her brown eyes looked sore, still red from the pain. Spencer's heart jumped against his rib-cage looking at her. Through the pain and suffering, he could see the light lit behind her eyes.

 "Hi, how are you feeling?" His voice barely whispers.

 "Better now," Betty replied swallowing down the intense pain.

 The nurse helped bring Betty's pain back down and left giving Spencer a small smile. Moving over to the chair by Betty, he sat on the box of his brother's ashes. Tears came uncontrollably. Grabbing Spencer's hand Betty squeezed some comfort into him. Her tears joined in, as she tried to ask what he was thinking about.

 "My brother," Spencer said showing her the box, "I was going to spread his ashes." His voice cracked making him go silent.

 The silence between them filled the room with warmth. It was something neither of them had felt before. A warmth that brought comfort and acceptance.  A small sigh came from them.

 "That's a huge box." Betty smiled.

 "I think they left out his feet."

 A pressed giggle came from her, as she grabbed her hips. Tears choked the warmth out of the room as she told him the bad news; she will never walk again. Taking her hands in his, Spencer's heart, had a feeling like never before. He wanted to protect this stranger, even though she didn't feel like a stranger.

 "I won't leave." He stared into her eyes, finding small traces of green mixed with light brown. "Unless you tell me too."

 "I'd like you to stay."

 The pain stung against Betty's bones. She struggled to find comfort and eventually gave in to sleeping. Spencer watched her slow ragged breathing for a few hours. One of the nurses gave him the right paperwork to fill out so he could stay and visit whenever.

 "I'll be right back," he told the nurse, "if she wakes ups before I'm back, ask her what she would like to do to keep entertained and call me."

 Hitching a ride back home, Spencer ran back up the hill he stood earlier that day. With his heart pounding he took out his brother's box.

 "You son of a gun," Spencer whispered.

 Running his hand over the engraved name, tears came once again. Expect, this time they were bittersweet. His heart ached for his brother. For his laughter, for his witty jokes, for the chance to tell him about Betty. A sigh escaped his chest. Spencer wondered how he could be overjoyed about the future. His thoughts earlier that week were to follow his brother into the unknown. Now, he felt the need to keep going. For himself and now Betty.

 "I hope you're not giving the big man too much trouble up there."

 Looking up the rain clouds moved to show the light of dawn. The purple hue lifted Spencer's heart with it. Fluffy clouds turned yellow by the rising sun. Doves and birds alike sang sweet nothings. The warmth he had felt from Betty, resonated in his chest. A crisp, breeze scented with pine grounded him.

 "Charlie!" Spencer called to the sky. "I found her. I finally found the one"!

 Opening the box, salty tears escaped him.

 "You will always be in my heart. Thank you."

 Gingerly opening the baggy in the box, he released Charlie into the sky. The ash danced within the breeze. Passing through the trees and lingering on bird's nests. Fading into the golden sunrise, disappearing in the rays. Spencer's tear-streaked face smiled in the coming warmth of the sun.

 "Bye for now."