STRANGE FEELINGS

NICHOLAS:

Despite the long night, my sleep was short and restless. I was plagued by unwelcome thoughts of Greg Waldeen, conjuring various images of him in my mind without settling on a single one.

The curiosity to know him proved difficult to handle, and as I rose from bed at sunrise to have coffee, I resolved to pursue him relentlessly, undeterred by any obstacles in my path.

The chilly morning sent shivers through my body, prompting me to bundle up. I adjusted the window blinds in an attempt to keep the cold air at bay, but it persisted, fueled by the nearby woods and river that turned the surroundings into a frosty zone with a mere gust of wind.

Such conditions often tempted me to consider selling the woods to a timber factory; the trees could serve a more practical purpose than exacerbating the cold.

Returning to my room, I changed into track pants and a cotton vest, tied back my hair and banded it round my skull, and ventured outside the building to gather firewood for the heart