08 – Deep in the Forest

The wind subsides to a breeze. Sometimes he throws up an unsuspected gust as if saying ‘I am still here.’ Chloe removes her sunglasses when she enters His and Her’s at exactly three-o’-clock that afternoon. Mrs Kennedy, busy with a young lady, looks up when she enters. "Chloe, you’re right on time. Robert is here waiting for you.” She nods with her head in the direction of a middle-aged man on the sofa. Robert rises and without any emotion on his face stares with his right eye. His left eye is glass. He has a scar over the full length of his face that shows the terrible damage of a very old wound. The blade must have cut open his face and also claimed his eye. Then also, a deep scar under his chin runs across his throat as if someone wanted to cut his throat. This must have happened years ago. It seems as if he has just come out of the woods where he is cutting trees. There are wood chips and sawdust in his longish, grey hair and on the collar of his shirt. He is wearing black Stihl