“You always leave your dirty clothes in the living room!” grumbled Ellie. Her voice echoed through the wooden panels of the small cabin, reaching Edgar, who had just retired to bed. It wasn’t a big house—just enough to comfortably accommodate two souls. Outside, it was pleasantly quiet. It was almost the end of fall, and one could hear fewer birds chirping, though the hooting and howls had dramatically increased during the night.

“Jeez! I was going to get rid of them,” Edgar groaned from the bedroom. Fixing the roof leak had completely drained him. There were still other chores around the house that needed his attention—repairing the chimney, boarding up an alcove in the kitchen, mending a broken chair, and oiling the rifle. One task at a time, Edgar thought, as he decided to call it a day.

At 45, Edgar Dahl was still as massive as he had been at 28. His burly physique was the result of the timber work he had done back in Vinstra, Norway. That was also where he met Ellie Hagen, the prettiest girl in town, who was eight years younger than Edgar. She was a bright young woman who loved playing the piano. People swooned over her, not only for her beauty but also for her radiant personality and warm, infectious energy. Every weekend, her charismatic music would reverberate through the restaurant her father owned in Vinstra. While many pursued Ellie for her looks, it wasn’t her beauty that struck Edgar the most—it was her smile. It had the power to bring even the dead back to life.

Edgar, though introverted, had always been an industrious worker. His rugged features were complemented by his untamed hair and fully grown beard. Apart from his handsome face, his caring nature instantly attracted Ellie, like a moth to a flame. Falling in love was easy. That same year, they got married with the blessings of their parents, and Ellie Hagen became Ellie Dahl. Soon they moved to Evjen for a construction project Edgar was working on.

Evjen was a beautiful place, and living there made the Dahls realize they were meant to stay. Even though the company shut down after a few years, Edgar continued to do menial jobs before trying his hand at farming. He never looked back, as he enjoyed the self-sufficiency of the work, which complemented his love for nature. Ellie taught music to the children of the town and occasionally performed for the people of Evjen. They lived a happy and contented life.

After the birth of their daughter, Hailee, Edgar bought land on the outskirts of town and built a beautiful little cabin himself. It had two bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, and two washrooms, along with a small garden in the front.

Hailee’s arrival had filled their days with joyful chaos—laughter, music, and activity. Edgar barely ever left her side. They would go for morning walks, often hunting rabbits in the woods and sometimes fishing in the nearby brook. He would accompany her to school, and was always the first parent outside the gate to pick her up.

When Hailee was a little older, he taught her how to ride a horse and how to shoot an arrow. The family would often go for picnics near the fjord. Ellie taught Hailee countless things, starting with the piano. More importantly, she taught her how to be independent, from doing the laundry to cooking for herself.

Every year, Hailee’s birthday was celebrated with great pomp. The Dahls invited guests from the town, and Ellie would bake the biggest of cakes. People danced and sang into the night and there were always plenty of presents to open.

Fifteen years later, Hailee was sent to London to pursue higher studies in law. With Hailee gone, it seemed as if a big part of their life was missing. Now, the house was still. The kind of stillness that settles in after too many seasons have passed. Hailee’s room was shut, no birthdays were celebrated, and people barely visited the Dahls anymore. Ellie had stopped singing, and the piano began to gather dust. She would generally be found around the house doing her chores. Edgar stopped going for his usual morning walks, spending most of his time lying around or trying to keep himself busy with various tasks.

The couple would often mumble at night before sleeping.

“Hailee will be back in a few years, you know. You should resume your morning walks,” Ellie would say.

“You should start playing again,” Edgar would mutter under his breath, his voice barely above a whisper.

“Ah! That wretched thing,” Ellie would respond before drifting off to sleep, their conversations fading into the quiet.

But today felt slightly different. After ensuring Hailee’s room was perfect for the umpteenth time, Ellie shifted toward the kitchen to prepare the evening soup. As she glanced at Edgar, she noticed his gaze was distant, as though he was staring through her, lost in his own thoughts. Without a word, Edgar made his way to bed, leaving Ellie feeling invisible. Peeved at being so thoroughly ignored, Ellie moved restlessly around the house, hoping for a scrap of attention.

“They were all sweaty and all over the place,” came her surly remark as she entered the room.

“Are we expecting someone?” Edgar asked flatly.

“No! But that doesn’t mean you can leave your clothes lying around,” Ellie retorted.

Edgar didn’t respond. She lingered, hoping for something-anything-from him. When he remained silent, Ellie asked “What’s going on with you?”

“What do you mean?”

“Is something bothering you?” Her voice

“No not really!”

Edgar looked at Ellie, confused, as if he genuinely didn’t understand what she was driving at.

“Then why won’t you talk?”

“What do you mean? We talk all the time,” Edgar said, his tone more defensive now, baffled by her frustration.

Ellie shook her head, frustration building. She paced the room restlessly searching for words. “Not like we used to. When was the last time we actually talked—really talked?”

Edgar sighed. Silence filled the room.

“Do you not love me anymore?” Ellie’s voice was barely a whisper, but it cut through the silence like a blade.

Edgar was taken aback. “Now why would you say that?”

“It sure doesn’t feel like it anymore,” Ellie muttered, her frustration finally boiling over as she stormed off toward the kitchen.

He remained in the room with his thoughts. He hadn’t realized how much things had changed since Hailee left for London. But that didn’t mean he had stopped loving Ellie. He just wasn’t as vocal, as expressive, as he used to be.

“Soup’s ready!” Ellie’s voice called out from the kitchen, accompanied by the clatter of utensils, each noise underscoring her vexation. Edgar stood and made his way to the kitchen. Without a word, he wrapped his arms around her from behind. The warmth of his embrace softened her tense shoulders, her temper easing as she melted into him.

They moved to the small dining table where two bowls of soup waited. Edgar pulled out a chair for Ellie as she sat. After a moment, he seated himself across from her.

Edgar complimented her cooking, and as they sipped their soup, they got to talking. Ellie began sharing stories from her childhood, and Edgar asked what she missed most from her life in Vinstra.

“Oh I miss it ’cause, you know, it’s my home. But more so, I miss pieces from my childhood.” Ellie’s eyes lit up as memories surfaced, little pockets of warmth from the past.

“Anya and Betty were always around. We’d never miss the Sunday church. Afterward, we’d hang out by the lake, eating berries from the bushes…”

“Berries?”

“Yeah, these amazing red berries—I forget the name….it was lingo… or something,” she frowned, trying to recall.

“Lingonberries?” Edgar offered.

“Yeah that’s the one! Oh, what I would give to taste them again! Tangy, sweet, like little drops of heaven.” Her smile widened as she traced the edge of her spoon.

She continued, “Then we’d watch the boys playing in the field, dreaming of what life with them would be like,” she chuckled, the sound rich with youthful innocence.

Edgar laughed. “And now you are stuck with me.”

“Yes!” she teased, grinning.

“Do you even remember when we met?” Edgar asked, leaning back, his eyes twinkling as he recalled their early days.

“Of course I do. One of my fondest memories. I remember exactly how it felt—the moment our eyes met, the shivers that ran down my spine.” She paused, smiling at the memory. “I was so nervous.”

“And you ran away!” Edgar chuckled.

“I didn’t know what else to do! I was a teenager,” she defended herself with a laugh, as they sank deeper into the comfort of their past.

Later that night, after they’d retired to bed, Edgar cuddled her close. They spoke softly about the good old days, letting the warmth of their memories fill the room. But Ellie’s yawns grew more frequent, her voice softer as sleep beckoned.

Edgar lay flat on his back, his mind already shifting to the tasks of tomorrow. “Cabbages are ready. I’ll have to pick them and take them to the vendor,” he mumbled, feeling the weight of another chore settling on his shoulders.

Ellie yawned again, snuggling into her pillow. “I’ll make some apple pie in the morning.”

Their energies seemed to drain as silence settled between then. After a while, Ellie quietly asked, “What do you miss the most?”

Edgar thought for a moment, the question hanging in the air. “I miss Hailee,” he said softly.

“I miss her too,” replied Ellie. “But you know what I miss the most?

“Mhmm?”

“I miss us,” she murmured, her voice fading as sleep overtook her.

The words hung in the air, delicate yet heavy. Edgar felt the sting of them settle deep inside him. He turned to face her, watching her as she lay beside him, her golden locks cascading over her ear, just like they used to, back when things were simpler. She was still as beautiful as the day they’d met, but he hadn’t told her that lately. He hadn’t shown her the love she deserved, not in the way he used to.

He exhaled softly, guilt mixing with the quiet realization that somewhere along the way, he had let life pull them apart. “She deserves all the love in the world,” he thought, feeling the sharp edge of his own neglect.

The next day when Ellie woke up, she was surprised to see Edgar already up and putting on his boots.

“Wait, what? Where are you headed?” Ellie asked.

“Morning walk,” Edgar replied with a wink, and a big smile erupted on Ellie’s face.

“Finally!” she exclaimed, gradually heading towards the washroom.

Edgar slid his boot knife into place, then put on his jacket and hat before heading for the main door. On his way out, he stopped to grab his rifle before shutting the door behind him.

It was still very early, and the sun hadn’t fully risen. The air was cold, but his jacket helped as he tucked his hands into the pockets. In the distance, some birds chirped. The steady thud of his boots on the gravel was the only other sound as he made his way toward the nearby brook, beyond which lay the woods.

As he walked alongside the brook, he remembered how he and Hailee would often stop to dip their feet in the water. She absolutely loved doing that. On some days, they’d bring their fishing rods, sitting on the largest rocks to catch haddock and cod.

He crossed the brook at a rocky stretch, slipping a few times as he balanced himself to reach the clearing beyond, where the woods began.

“Now where did I see it?” Edgar muttered, trying to recall his solo expeditions from the past. He walked slowly along a trail, carefully observing each tree and patch of shrubbery, as if searching for a familiar landmark.

By half past six, nearly an hour later, his efforts began to bear fruit. His memory grew sharper, and soon he recognized a stretch of shrubs bearing small, round, red berries.

“There you are!” Edgar exclaimed, his eyes lighting up with recognition. He carefully began plucking the wild berries one by one, stuffing them into the pockets of his jacket. Ten minutes later, he realized he had gathered enough to last them a few days.

With pockets full of lingonberries, Edgar began to head back, proud of his achievement. A slight spring entered his step as he hummed his favorite ballad, the crisp morning air filling him with quiet contentment.

When Edgar was almost back at the brook, his steps faltered. Something had caught the edge of his eye—a large white wolf, likely there for a drink. Edgar froze. Slowly, he reached for his rifle, careful not make a sound. But before he could even raise it, the wolf had already noticed him. It bared its teeth, a low growl rumbling through the air as it prepared to charge.

Edgar’s heart pounded as he tried to pull the trigger—but nothing happened. The gun was jammed. A flash of regret crossed his mind. He had been reckless for not oiling the gun for weeks.

Before he could react, the wolf lunged. Edgar ducked just in time, but not fast enough to avoid the creature’s sharp teeth sinking into his right arm. He roared in pain, falling to the ground, struggling to keep hold of his rifle. Without a second thought, he swung the buttstock at the wolf’s head—once, twice—yet the beast wouldn’t relent. Its teeth seemed to dig deeper into his flesh.

With one final blow to the wolf’s nose, it released Edgar’s arm. However, it quickly latched onto his torso, the thick jacket cushioning the impact. Edgar fought through the haze of pain and panic, using his fists to fend off the beast. Amid the chaos, something clicked in his mind—the boot knife. Immediately yanking it from its sheath, in one swift motion, Edgar slashed it across the wolf’s eye.

The animal yelped in agony, releasing him immediately. Edgar scrambled to his feet, his breath ragged as he backed away. The wolf stood at a distance, growling, still dangerous but hesitant now. Edgar, gripping his knife, stared it down, ready for another attack.

He shouted, “C’mon!”

But instead of charging, the wolf lingered for a moment longer before retreating slightly, circling at a distance, still gnashing its teeth. Edgar didn’t wait for it to change its mind. He slowly retreated, step by step, toward the safety of the brook, blood seeping from his wounds, his heart racing with the realization of how close he had come to death.

“Oh, Ellie!” he choked up, overwhelmed by a thousand thoughts at once. What if that had been his final moment? How foolish he had been. Why hadn’t he oiled the gun? What if Hailee had been with him when the beast attacked? Ellie would have been devastated. His mind circled back to the moment when Hailee was born and how Ellie had joked, smiling as she watched Edgar holding their newborn baby, “Now my love is divided,” she had said.

He thought about how Ellie cared for him, day in and day out. How she made the best food, understood him so well, and how his life would be nothing without her. In that moment, near the brook, he had never felt so alone. He realized how much he loved his wife. That he missed her more than anything—he just wanted to be wrapped in her arms and cry.

The loneliness of the woods and the babbling of the brook were a cruel reminder of the distance he felt from home. Ellie was his home. Every cell in his body longed to be around her, to be with her, for her soothing presence and unwavering support. He knew now, more than ever, that she was his anchor, the one who gave his life meaning and direction.

As Edgar crossed the brook, his footing faltered, slipping more than once on the slick rocks. Each time, he turned to check over his shoulder, his eyes darting back to the woods. He had to be sure the wolf wasn’t following him. His breath came in shallow bursts, the pain in his arm sharp with every movement. Only after he felt certain the creature hadn’t pursued him did he stop.

He removed his torn jacket and surveyed the damage. His arm was bleeding badly, the teeth marks deep and raw. With no time to waste, he ripped a sleeve off his shirt and wrapped it tightly around the wound, wincing as he tied it into a rough knot. His torso ached with bruises, but nothing seemed broken.

Sighing in relief, Edgar picked up his jacket and slung it over his shoulder, though the weight of it made him wince. He limped slowly, each step sending jolts of pain through his body as he made his way back toward the house. His mind raced, replaying the brutal encounter with the wolf, but the only thing driving him forward now was the thought of getting back to Ellie—safely.

Ellie was outside, hanging clothes on the line, when she spotted a limping figure approaching. Her heart skipped a beat as she recognized. Dropping the clothes, she ran toward him, screaming, “Ed! Ed! What happened?”

“Nothing, nothing, I am fine,” replied Edgar his voice calm despite the pain.

“You’re bleeding!” Ellie gasped, rushing to support him as he made his way through the gate.

“It’s just a minor cut. I’m fine,” he reassured her.

“But….what…” Ellie’s words faltered as her eyes traced the wounds.

“It was a wolf. It attacked me, but I slashed that bugger’s eyes,” Edgar said, the memory of the attack still fresh.

“A wolf? They don’t usually come this side of the brook,” she reasoned, her voice trembling.

“I was at the far end, near the woods.” Edgar explained.

“The woods? Why on earth would you go there?” She demanded, her voice sharp with worry.

Edgar opened his mouth to answer but then thought better of it. He wanted to surprise her with the berries. He reached for his jacket, but his heart sank as he noticed the fabric was badly mauled. The pockets were torn, and the berries were gone. Dejected, he sat on a chair, peeling off his tattered jacket.

Ellie, horrified, stared at his wounds. “I’ll get clean clothes, hot water, and ointments,” she said, hurrying to the kitchen. She returned moments later, arms laden with supplies: fresh clothes, strips of cloth, alcohol, and water.

“It’s not so bad,” Edgar tried to smile, but Ellie was already setting to work.

“We’re going straight to the Ingrids after this,” she declared, referring to the local doctors.

“But I—” Edgar began.

“Tsk, tsk. Not a word!” Ellie cut him off, her eyes flashing with anger. “Where else are you hurt? Take off your shoes.”

“It’s nothing…” Edgar groaned.

“What did I just say?” Ellie’s gaze was stern.

Sighing, he removed his shoes. To Ellie’s relief, his legs were only scratched in a few places.

“I fell near the stream,” Edgar mumbled, trying to explain.

“You still haven’t told me why you went all the way to the woods, all by yourself,” Ellie pressed, her voice soft but insistent.

Edgar reached for his jacket again, fingers feeling through the ruined pockets. Suddenly, his face brightened as he felt something. A single, small berry had survived, hiding in the corner of his jacket. He pulled it out and presented it to Ellie, his eyes twinkling.

“For this!” Edgar said, grinning.

Ellie’s eyes welled up at the sight of the tiny fruit. In that instant, she understood everything. All her anger melted away, and without a word, she pulled him into a tight embrace.

“Why, Ed? Why?” she sobbed, big teardrops falling onto his shoulder.

“Easy! It still hurts!” Edgar winced with a soft laugh, trying to lighten the moment.

“I’m sorry! I’m so sorry, I caused this,” Ellie cried.

“No, no, you didn’t,” Edgar soothed.

“Yes, I did. If I hadn’t told you about those damn berries, you wouldn’t have—”

“Hey, listen. It wasn’t you. I wanted to surprise you,” Edgar interrupted gently. “I thought, if I could bring even a small piece of your childhood back to you, it would show you how much… how much you mean to me… how much I love you.” His voice wavered, a bit uncomfortable with the weight of the confession.

Ellie melted at his words, leaning in to kiss him softly. She looked at him, tears still flowing.

“Oh, Eddie! You already showed me yesterday. I don’t need you to do more. Yesterday was enough. It was all I needed.”

They kissed again, and she hugged him tight, pressing her face into his neck.

“Oh Ed, how would I live if something happened to you? Promise me you’ll never do something like this again.”

Edgar held her close, the weight of the near-death encounter settling deep within him. In the safety of Ellie’s arms, he felt truly alive. He whispered, “I promise.”

Ellie wiped her tears away, then resumed tending to his wounds. As she worked, Edgar wiped the lone berry clean, inspecting it carefully.

“If it weren’t for that wolf, I’d have brought you two full pockets,” he said, giving her a sheepish grin.

“Stupid man!” she teased, gently poking at his wound.

“Ouch! Easy!”

When she was done, he handed the berry to her and said, “At least celebrate it!”

She laughed and took a small bite, giving the rest back to Edgar, who popped it into his mouth.

“This brings back memories!” Ellie said, savouring the taste of the small morsel she had.

“See? Told you!” Edgar replied smugly.

Before they left for the Ingrids, Edgar snuck out into the garden and buried the seed from the berry in the soil. The doctors ruled out anything serious, much to Ellie’s relief, and gave Edgar plenty of antiseptics. The dressing was to be done daily, and Ellie was shown how to take care of it.

Edgar spent the rest of the year recuperating, but the time was well spent, with Ellie always by his side. Some days, Edgar wondered how life would have been without her, though he didn’t need to say it aloud—Ellie always knew what he was thinking.

When Hailee returned from London, she noticed a new plant in the garden, its branches heavy with red berries.

“Well! That’s new!” she exclaimed in surprise.

Edgar recognised her voice and rushed to greet her, looking completely fit and healthy, his wounds fully healed. Ellie too stood up from the piano with a big content smile on her face to welcome their daughter.