-1The Silent Fool

A Garet/Jenna Romance

Sorry for the extremely long wait… I've been learning about my new computer and losing a lot of story sheets… Including this one's plot line. .

Chapter 4: A Solution to the Pain

Night had fallen upon the camp, covering the sky in a rich midnight cloak set with bright white starbursts. The trees stood tall and still, only shifting when the wind sifted through their leaves, with a sort of dry laziness that spoke of a warm day to come.

Garet, lying back on a soft patch of grass, wide awake and silent, had no time to admire the scenery.

He had a far more pressing problem in mind.

I have to get out of here. In a surprisingly quiet movement for such a large man, Garet pushed himself upright until he stood, a dark outline against the sky.

I can't stay bitter forever… At least, not with everyone around. I'm of no use anymore; I'm bringing down the team.

Even as he thought it, he knew the real reason: He would ruin Jenna's happiness if he stuck around. She would probably be much happier with her hero than the village idiot. So he had to go, get out of the picture before he could permanently wedge himself between them.

He honestly loved her that much. They might miss him, but at least they would have a shot at happiness.

And where does that leave me, he wondered, allowing himself the briefest feeling of pain before his customary numbness settled in.

It doesn't matter. As long as she's happy, I can live with myself.

Garet shuffled in silence along the edge of camp, stooping over occasionally as he gathered the barest necessities for his escape, even giving a wide berth to his teammates as he delved into the woods, leaving them behind, maybe even forever.

Goodbye, Jenna…