One week after Kate’s death, John went on a hunt. He stared at his reflection in the black-and-gold mirror in his house, noting that he’d lost weight. There were dark circles under his eyes, and he was a few days past a shave, stubble forming on his jawline. He was starting to get jowls now, too. The image staring back at him felt like a stranger.
Hoisting his Deringer over his shoulder, John went out to the woods, a place he and Kate had explored together on countless occasions. The air was heavy with the scent of pines and the distant echoes of birds. The hunt became more than a quest for game; it was a way to find solace in nature and come to terms with the heart-wrenching loss that had shattered his world.