(Photo: Kajetan Sumila on Unsplash)
He was, but not quite, a solitudinarian.
He lived alone. His homestead perched atop a bluff where steep trails provided an effective fencing.
He offered bare gruff care for stranded hikers whose calculations of the weather led them to beg shelter.
Townspeople cast shadows on his hermitage. No sane man, they insisted, would give up their company.
He differed.
He came down from the mountain only rarely, for provisions he could not otherwise procure, his expression ascertaining that friendship remained off that list.
And yet.
He loved. The one. Before.
For Sammi’s Weekend Writing Prompt: solitudinarian in 90 words
Na'ama Yehuda 
Na’ama Y’karah,
Once burned, twice shy. Poignantly well written story. And I think of a saying coined back in the 60’s. I love mankind, it’s people I can’t stand. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! And … indeed. Perfect sayings, both … And, I suspect there’s been more than once burned for him to get to where he is, and some of it likely too early on …
Off to read yours!
Na’ama
LikeLike
I’m guessing he wasn’t always a loner. An intriguing tale Na’ama.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think you are guessing correctly … 😉
Thanks, Keith! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
A sad backstory in that last line. I must say I would quite like his solitude though, sounds good to me! Nice one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hear ya! I think some of us can relate to the benefits (or at least some benefits) of a solitudinarian’s life. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh you weaver of stories, you. I had this niggling feeling that we would find out there was a reason he was so… let’s say disgruntled… beautifully done.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, my friend! I am so delighted that it spoke to you! And … yes, I guess there’s a reason for people being who they are, and often times, it is something in their interpretation of the life they’d had till then … Some more disgruntled than others … Some more wounded than others … And a few, well, just not very good apples. I think he’s someplace among the first two options.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your stories always speak to me. I believe he is definitely one of the first two options.
Beautifully done, my friend.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, friend! 🙂 And … I’m glad that my stories are as chatty as I am … 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
😀
Did I tell you I am reading Outlawed Hope?
LikeLiked by 1 person
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOH! I didn’t know! I’m so glad you’re reading it, and I will be very very interested in your feedback! 🙂 xoxo
LikeLiked by 1 person
Just like with Emilia, I will gladly give you a review 😉
It took me a bit to get into it but mostly because I was only reading a mere 5-10 minutes at a time. Now that Mrs. Gardner is in the picture… I’m making more time! 😘
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah … Mrs. Gardner … 🙂 She does pick up the pace of things some, doesn’t she? 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love her! 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’d think you would!!! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
💞
LikeLiked by 1 person
😀 (and I really really REALLY am glad you’re reading Outlawed Hope! 🙂 )
LikeLiked by 1 person
😁😊😘
LikeLiked by 1 person
A lovely character description. I want to know more about this man’s back story! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I bet many in town would want to, too … 😉 And yet, he keeps it well (too!) close to his belly …
I’m with you! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe you could elaborate in next week’s scribbles using the next prompt! 😄
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah, perhaps … 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person