Page 11 of His Cabin Obsession

The sad thing is, on first impression, I had even started to wonder if he might be it.

Well, now I know. It’s not like he would ever be interested in me, anyway. I’m obviously not his type. I bet he likes the stick thin figure models that are all over social media, with their fake lips, breasts, and butts. I’m all real, and I’m not giving this up to just anyone.

I stomp along the trail, freezing when I hear a noise off to the left. I dart my eyes around, looking frantically for the source; when a squirrel runs quickly up a tree, moving from its camouflaged position on the trunk, I sigh in relief and keep moving.

It’s all Aaron’s fault that I’m even out here. I shouldn’t be. I should have staked my claim on my space. Told him to go shove his walk, that he could go and enjoy nature if he likes it so much. But I just agreed and left, partly because I was ashamed. I don’t want to be, but there it is. When people have spoken down to you about your weight all your life, you end up feeling a little self-conscious about it.

A bird flies across the trees in front of me with a flutter of wings and shaken leaves falling off a branch, making me scream in alarm. The noise startles even more birds to fly up out of their hiding places and begin squawking to one another, making my heart beat a million miles an hour. This is all Aaron’s fault. I shouldn’t even be out here.

I could turn back now – give him a piece of my mind.

No, that would be even worse. Then he’ll start thinking that fatty couldn’t take the walk. I’m so sick of the way people talk to me. Behind my back, or even in front of my face. I’m plenty fit. I can handle a two-hour or so trail without a problem.

I’ll make the walk, then I’ll confront him. And boy, is he going to get a piece of my mind when I get back. I’m going to let him know exactly what I think about his sly comments – and I’ll have the proof of my fitness to back it up, too.

If I don’t get mauled by a bear before I’m back.

As time goes on and nothing happens, I slowly start to relax. Maybe I can, after all, trust in the idea that nothing is going to attack me out here. The cabins are often rented out, so I guess the animals probably know that there are humans around. Maybe they stay away from here so that they don’t get trapped or killed themselves.

The small animals, however, are around here in abundance. I see plenty more squirrels and birds, and a few times little movements on the path ahead that could be rabbits or other small creatures. I start to enjoy the feeling of being in nature like this. The fresh air, the sun overhead, the heat diluted by the cover of the trees. It feels alive here, real and vibrant. Much different to anything I’ve ever experienced in a town or city.

Alright, so maybe Aaron was right about a walk being a great way to gain some new inspiration. That doesn’t mean I have to stop being mad at him. Not just yet.

I sit down and take a break after about an hour, finding a large and convenient rock that is just in the right position for me to take a seat without being too afraid of insects dropping on my head. I sit and absorb the smells of the forest and the sounds. This place is really magical. I know, now, I made the right choice coming out here. If I don’t make it out of here without a good story in my hands, then something big must have happened. Like, life changing big. There’s no other way I would be able to hold back the inspiration.

I get up and finish my walk, feeling a lot better for it already. Again, just like Aaron said. The fresh air in my lungs and the feeling of being a part of nature really does put a spring in your step. I don’t think I’m going to admit to him that he was right, however.

I finally emerge onto the path that leads to the cabin, a somewhat familiar sight already. Looking down at the ground, I could swear that there are deeper tire tracks here than what I remember from when I left. But that’s crazy. It must just be from the taxi that I took earlier. What else would have caused it?

Aaron isn’t outside, which makes me frown a little. It means that he must be inside, which means back to close quarters and no way to avoid each other. That might be fine, it will give me a chance to tell him what I think of him. Better to get it out of the way now before he thinks of pulling something like that again.

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