In which moment he does not look back.
At thirteen he had made friends outside of the wood, and being a boy of thirteen he began to enter the woods less and less. Though its magical qualities had begun to dwindle in the eyes of this teenage boy he hadn't yet forgotten his animal friends. He visited them daily yes but for short periods of time he had a girlfriend now. Gorgeous young bird, a month younger than him she was with red curly lochs and he would take her to visit them on occasion. Pooh the bear was aware that someday soon he would possibly never see his friend again. Christopher did sense the bear's uneasiness being with him all those years had made Christopher sensitive to the feelings of the animals here. Christopher assured them he would not be leaving forever.
Years passed and Christopher's heart broke and though it would be horrible to say his animal friends seemed to take comfort in this. For each time a female had broken the heart of young Christopher he would come back to seek comfort from his animal friends. At seventeen now he lay beside Pooh the bear and Tigger his tiger friend and talk of life and death. His grandfather had passed on that evening, so shrouded in black Christopher lay in suit and tie with tear streaked face.
"Pooh, Tigger, do you know how it feels to lose someone close to you?"
He would ask not expecting an answer of course but their presence was comfort enough. He lay there for hours asking them questions, and stating his beliefs on the afterlife he had become a bitter boy it was odd for the animals to see the changes in this young man. Once so happy and bright like the candles Christopher would bring into the dark parts of the woods when they would play hide and seek, now a dim lit boy, his face almost always a scowl. "I have to go you guys, we have to clear out my grandfather's house. I guess I'll see you guys later." Pooh let out a slight huff as Christopher got up and Tigger a slight sad purr as if to say hurry back. They watched him go, but at the place where he would normally stop and turn back to wave, he did not, he just kept a steady pace slow and dreadful.
That day Christopher did head to his grandfather's house and with his mother and father they went through his things. "Christopher dear, do you mind carrying some boxes up from the basement?" his mother shouted up to him. He was in the spare room his grandfather had set up for him. He knew his grandfather well and enjoyed staying with him when he was young but as he grew older he spent less time with his grandfather as well this made him feel guilty about the times he had disappointed his grandfather. Christopher sighed and put down the small wooden horse his grandfather had made for him which he left in the spare room all those years ago. He walked down the stairs and replied, "Sure thing mom." He sighed as he descended into the basement.