It was good exercise for her arms. She needed to stay strong. Winter was coming soon and she’d have to prepare her body to survive it. Preparation was key to hermit life. Squirrels knew what was up. Packing away nuts and seeds for the long cold months. She’d learned so much from watching the animals. The bears had it best though, sleeping away the entire season. If only she was a bear. She’d been through five winters. This would be her sixth. Hard to believe she hadn’t slept in a real bed, in a home, under a solid roof, for six years. She paused her digging, letting her reality sink in for a tiny moment. On her own, no family, no friends. No home. No regrets. Her lips curved into a smile, and she slowly reached into the crevice between two boulders. “I see you,” she murmured. “One, two, three, four, five… yep, there you are.”
