Forgotten

Three --Tara

Aaron Fisher returns smiling. His smile is beautiful, this is the first time I have actually looked at him. Two large blue eyes set on the face of a teenage boy. Auburn hair falls across his forehead. His nose is curved, and turns up at the tip. His lips are full, and his cheeks rosy.

He hands me the canteen. "Drink. There's a spring not too far away, it's the best water I have ever had." He is right the water is crisp and fresh. I had no idea how thirsty I was until now. I drain the bottle.

Aaron sits on one of the bed rolls while saying. "Thankfully the backpackers had all this supplies, water bottles, sleeping bags--it gets cold here at night-- even a fry pan."

I sit on the bed across from him. "What do you eat exactly?"

"I catch squirrel, rabbit, and I have been wanting a deer but haven't figured out how to trap them yet. It's spring so there's also berries."

"Have you been afraid. All alone?"

"Tara, you ask a lot of questions. "

"Aaron, I'm just trying to get to know you and who you survive here." I mimic his tone. "And I really want to know where 'here' is."

Aaron cracks a smile. "It's getting dark, we are losing day light. Want to help me gather fire wood?"

"Sure..."

Together we walk out of the cave, and back into the woods.

Aaron starts a fire in the entrance of the cave. As the sun sets, I watch the shadows of the looming trees fall across the ground.