---- Chapter 7 Life was fleeting. And for me, there was something fascinating about seeing how others lived. As a forest ranger, I did my job well, day in and day out, getting a firsthand look at their lives. Most days, aside from patrolling the mountains, I just read in the cabin. Surprisingly, I found it peaceful. Cut off from the outside world, this place was a haven. But today, an unexpected visitor showed up. There was a knock at the door. When I opened it, a man dressed in black stood outside, his silhouette oddly familiar. "Conrad?" The guy looked up, and I recognized him instantly. "Joel." Outside, the heavy snow had started up again. Sending him back down the mountain now was ---- out of the question. I poured him a steaming cup of coffee and motioned to a seat. The warmth inside felt comforting. Joel looked around the room. "This place is so you. It's definitely your style." I smiled and said nothing. He pushed further. "Aren't you going to ask why I'm here, why I came looking for you, and how I found you? Aren't you curious?" Ihumored him. "Why are you here?" Joel paused, then burst into laughter, so hard it brought tears to his eyes. "Oh, Jean. Everyone thinks you're so warm and kind, but the truth is? No one ever really gets through to you. Not even me, and I've been by your side for over ten years. I've never once made it into your heart."" I drank my coffee and let the silence do the talking. I never told Joel this, but I'd have loved him exactly as he was if we had gotten married back ---- then. It wouldn't have mattered if he were sick or healthy, I'd have stayed with him for the rest of my life. Once I made a choice, I never wavered. That was just how I loved. But in the end, he had chosen to be with Jenny. So I swallowed those words and let them stay unspoken. I let those old thoughts drift away with the wind. What good were "what-ifs" now? They changed nothing. "] just came by to check on you. Conrad's been looking for you this whole time. He still won't believe you're dead. Not that I ever did either. You've always been the kind of person who fights to survive." Joel's words echoed in my mind. I stared absently at the snowstorm outside. Back when he and I were kids in the orphanage, we dealt with constant bullying.