Feedback please.
It was a cold winter day, and the fire burned brightly in the middle of the forest. The sun was very weak that day, hiding behind the trees. The two men sat around the fire, warming their hands. They were dressed with many layers, and took their gloves off in order to feel the fire. The woman lay dead, naked, but quite warm, right next to the fire.
“I suggest we get rid of her before the fire dies out,” Bob said.
“No, because it won’t die out.” Tom said. “It won’t die out, and no one will put it out.”
Bob shrugged and continued to eat. He was looking for the sun. He needed it now, and he didn’t like the fire and the woman and the cold and Tom. “Where is it?” he asked.
“Where’s what?”
“The sun, I think I really need it right now, this fire isn’t doing a hell of a lot.”
“I don’t like it.” He said as he blocked it out with his thumb. “ I don’t like it and I hope it stays hidden in the trees.”
Bob paused, thinking over Tom’s words, and spoke,
“You don’t know what you’re talking about. If the sun were out we wouldn’t even need this goddamned fire.”
“Yeah, I know that, but that will never happen. The sun is never enough. You need a fire, and I’d rather just have the fire. Who wants the sun? When you look at it your eyes get all burnt. I can look at the fire, can’t I?”
“Yes, but I feel bad about this. We could have had just the sun and we could even look at it, but we need this damn fire because she’s dead.” He sweated as he spoke. “ I wish she was alive. I wish someone would put out this goddamn fire, too. Then the sun would come out and we’d all be happy.”
“I don’t regret it,” Tom boldly declared as he finished the contents of his flask. “I don’t regret it one bit. I’m glad, and I like the fire,” he said as he rubbed his hands together, and grimaced from the drink. “I’m better off with the fire and her. You should leave and go look for your goddamn sun. Find the sun, but don’t even think about putting out the fire. I’ll knock your teeth out.”
“No, no,” Bob assured him. “I wouldn’t put out the fire. I mean, I don’t like it and all but that’s not my job… someone else will put it out sooner or later, I hope. I wish it were that simple and I could find the sun, though. I want the sun, but I’ve never actually taken a good look at it, and it’s too late now. We fucked up. The woman is dead and I’m stuck with her and you and the fire and the goddamn cold winter. The sun is somewhere, and I’ll never find it.”
“I hear that, kid.” Tom said “You and I, we have our own deals but we’re both here so what does it matter?”
It was true. He was cynical, but what he had said really wasn’t. There was nothing else. They shared the awkward silence. Awkward permanent stifling silence.
“So how ‘bout them Pats?”
Bob smiled; it was going to be a long, long day.