Kevin, Maggie’s husband, had been missing for four years while on a solo walk. She had accepted that she would never see him again, but when their family dog Scout suddenly showed up carrying Jason’s jacket, it gave her hope.
On that terrible day, Jason had left to find peace in nature. He had said, “Just me and Scout,” and his eyes were shining with joy. Maggie remembered the search groups, the never-ending calls, and the heartbreaking news that he was thought to be dead.
As the years went by, their home was filled with memories of Jason. As the kids got older, they sometimes asked about their dad. Maggie told stories about him that helped people remember him.
Then, on a sunny afternoon, Scout came back. He was thin and worn out, and he had Jason’s jacket in his mouth. She felt her heart beat faster. She went into the forest with the dog, not knowing where the path would take her.
More and more trees seemed to close in around her as Scout led her deeper into the woods. In the end, a house came out of the bushes. The smoke was drifting slowly, and footsteps were visible in the mud outside. Maggie’s heart beat faster.
As she got closer to the window, her breath caught. Jason stood inside. He had a beard on his face and his hair was messy. A woman stood next to him and touched his arm with her hand. Maggie’s whole world fell apart.
Now that she was stronger, she pushed the door open. Jason’s eyes got bigger, and he spoke in a voice that was almost a whisper. “Maggie…”
It was sad to see each other again. Jason talked about leaving the life they built to find freedom in nature. Maggie was so angry that her heart hurt. “You left us,” she said in a voice that was shaking.
Jason’s face stayed blank, and his words were empty. Maggie saw that the man she loved was no longer there. She turned around and walked away, taking a piece of her life with her.
The trip back was very long and hard. Maggie had a lot on her mind and heart. She was sure she would never go back. She went to find a lawyer the next morning, her voice firm. “I want to split up.”
