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The longing by selftheist

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· @selftheist ·
$3.88
The longing
![winter-g9e8b135bf_640 (1).jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/selftheist/23z7LMiabbyLLUyZiosezNZc29D87ThkfdVDLJgPrKjnK6Epi1UzUnNyyrv85o3zbFKFH.jpg)
[source](https://pixabay.com/es/photos/invierno-nieve-casa-paisaje-1828779/)

Charles opened his vacation Cabin. 

A cozy feeling engulfed him as the sound of the chimney as well as the warmth welcomed his face after going through the winter all the way from the city.

He had told a nearby trusted neighbor to prepare the place for his arrival after negotiating a few caskets of beer. Between the negotiations was also a big pot of instant coffee. You know, survival needs 101, and that’s how in this lovely picture we add the satisfying smell of coffee being made.

“Hell, this is what I am talking about” 


![winter-landscape-g7f2f63424_640.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/selftheist/48Z7ry8kp7bmHtbcSinMn7WJV1so7z3YK39KQpvYBU784yhinAmRjsQhSFmekdDPyj.jpg)
[source](https://pixabay.com/es/photos/paisaje-de-invierno-%C3%A1rboles-nieve-2571788/)

After taking his cap off, leaving his white hair to weave, he poured the sacred black elixir and stepped to the window seeing the pines filled with the falling snow. Charles took a long sip, letting his whole body praise the lord above with a comforting sensation… until his phone rang.

“Yeah,” He bluntly answered. Everyone knew they weren’t supposed to call him unless an emergency was happening.

“I don’t care” And then hang up.

People at home will have to suffice without him. 

Despite the trip, he felt refreshed. Perhaps it was too soon to hit the sack. With a smile on his gray beard, he took the rifle beside the door and a box of ammo but he slowed down as he saw the picture of his daughter below it.

He hadn’t heard a word from her for 5 years now. Businesses do that. You just get your eye on the target, and you don’t stop until you get what you are after. Years can go by really easily

His own steps crunching the snow made the thought even deeper, his misty breath was becoming familiar. The silence… deafening. He went towards the trees.

When he was young, his father would tell him about the sacred duty of family. “No one else will take your feet out of the mud, Charles” but experience shows him otherwise. When his car business became successful, he tried to help the rest of his family by getting them into the business. In the end, they learned the game and became competitors. The worst thing? They said he should be happy about them! Happy! for having his clients stolen by his own blood!

Charles scoffed. There better be something to shoot somewhere soon. Maybe a rabbit, or a fox.
The pines grew from the white all the way ahead. The perfume barely could be felt as the cold dimmed the smell.

Then there was this harpy of a woman, Allison. They met at a donation gala. Yes, old Charles was once a very fancy man. Ambitious one too. He wouldn’t let go of the most beautiful woman in the room, and she came along with him. Later, the altar awaited. They both were so happy, believe it or not. But she was onto something. Charles felt it, like a worm opening its way through the gut. But once his business became international she showed her true nature. Willow was born somewhere around that. He had trusted her with taking care of the child and he went down to fight the sharks for the survival of his company, and when he came back? A divorce waited for him. 

“Where are the damn rabbits!” He shouted.

As he did, the movement went on the snow. Charles sharpened the ear and went still. There was a noise somewhere on the ice. He slowly approached.

Divorce is no play. You have to fight tooth and nail to keep what was already yours. It gets messy, but he is accustomed to it. You had to, if you wanted to survive in the world. You just do your thing and get on with it. 
But there was something amiss in all that. Something in the blue eyes, hiding in the blonde hair of a young little girl. Like she didn’t belong in the middle of all that. Allison wanted custody, and it was fine, as long as he didn’t have to see her face anymore.


![eye-g05cfe4e6a_640.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/selftheist/23wWxxzEcP3wZZMrzprDTcvmM3dpkKRkFaP2K63VBwHn9G9WRwSbxzPH1dzfuvD4ZzoZr.jpg)
[source](https://pixabay.com/es/photos/ojo-ojo-azul-iris-alumno-1173863/)

With the tip of the rifle, he searched the moving snow. 

“Bingo…” He said.

It was a white rabbit stuck in a fallen branch. Surely, when the snow built up the weight made it fall so good old Charles can have his dinner. He aimed between those big, blue eyes. But then he had this feeling building up. Like that rabbit didn’t belong there, at the end of his rifle. 

He approached and pushed the branch. Quickly, the rabbit bounced away and when Charles turned it was like it vanished into the white sea. He was dissapointed. He wanted to glance it from afar at least.
Going back felt heavier, and colder. With the rifle strapped on his back, he braced himself on his camouflage winter jacket.


![man-g40b0316d5_640.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/selftheist/23wMcXHyxxPjrF2rGPMdn3jrmx5QSeSgdxWJEVDuTQNArg5a2xKcePuqkNpVnadeH3snD.jpg)
[source](https://pixabay.com/es/photos/hombre-caza-cazador-bosque-esqu%C3%AD-6069424/)

Doesn't she ever miss him? He was her dad! That had to count for something! Of course, some time has gone by but it was never too late for an encounter. Perhaps he could pick a nice, big pine and take it home, so his grandchildren could play below it while opening their gifts.
He was getting excited about it. He went up the stairs to his cabin, took his jacket off, and made the call. When something is hard, do it fast.

“Hello?”

“Y-yeah, hi. Willow?”

“Yes. Who is this?”

“It’s me, darlin’. Dad”

“Hi, dad”

“Hey. Um.. so how are you doing?”

“Oh… good. Good”.

“And the children? growing strong?” 

“Yeah.”

“Good… good”

A silence went by. It was that feeling again.

“Did you… need something?” 

“Em… no, no. I just wanted to see how you were, that’s all. Listen, I need to go, work stuff, but If you ever need something you know you can count on me, okay?”

“Yeah…um, okay. Yeah, sure, Dad”

“See you!”

He hung up.

Charles clenched his teeth and grunted, but a cold realization slowly filled him. 
Leaving the phone on a counter, he poured himself some more coffee staring at the window.

Yeah, that’s how it’s got to be. 

It was better that way.
👍  , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , and 384 others
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vote details (448)
@theinkwell ·
What a bittersweet story, @selftheist. It's a good character study of someone who has lived a full life, with all of its ups and downs. And it shows that even someone who has probably overcome many challenges can still stumble when it comes to the expression of feelings.

Thank you for sharing your story in The Ink Well. Please be sure to engage in the community. We ask everyone who posts in The Ink Well to read and comment on the work of at least two other community members for each story published. (Also note that we prefer quality over quantity.)
👍  ,
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vote details (2)
@selftheist · (edited)
I understand. Any feedback comes to mind?

I have been engaging for a while now. As I have free time I also read other's stories. Have you noticed? Or perhaps you mean engaging in another way I am not aware of?

What do you mean by quality over quantity? Are my tales not good enough? 😟
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