“Well, there’s someone I know that maybe… But I’ll ask her first. I’ll let you know what her answer is.”

“Okay, thank you,” Eron gratefully acknowledged. Now, he was more relaxed and softly smiling as he got back to work. “I’ll wait for you to update me, boss.”

Jack looked once more at his smiling new hire, suspicion showing in his blue eyes. It was not usual to receive tourists in that part of the mountains, nor locals from other villages around their area. And it was even rarer to see outsiders at Mendez village. It wasn’t about distrust, after all, but that feeling of the unusual that was continually poking at the back of the younger Schneider’s brain.

A foreigner who had just arrived in their country, and was camping in the forest, cutting wood as if it were his second nature. Worse, he’s insisting that he just got tired of the city, which is why he’s doing all this?

“I swear, bro, not a bodyguard, not a bouncer, nor a stripper. I had a simple job in the city because I always liked to live a simple life. But I just got tired of it all. The job, the metro, the people over there, all stressed and rushing all the time. I just needed a break, and this place seemed to be exactly what I needed to relax and just chill,” Eron said with a chuckle, surprising Jack, as he noticed the disbelief in the way his new employer looked at him.

Jack, too, was lost in his thoughts, not noticing that he was still staring at the former urban resident. “How does a guy like him get tired of the city? I could bet a month's salary on him being followed tirelessly by a group of lovely ladies, and, I dare say, a few guys like Uncle Lex as well,” he mumbled in disbelief.

But the former urban dweller heard him, “Yeah, I think I still have, as they used to say, ‘The Charm’ down pat. Sorry, boss, it’s not you. It was ingrained in me to cause that kind of attraction on people,” Eron said as he chuckled with amusement. “ I mean, we were trained to be charming to make us security guards more approachable.”

Good save, Eron…

Jake snapped back to reality and explained hurriedly, “I’m sorry, but I was seriously wondering, if I were to leave my country, I couldn’t stop thinking about my mother and father, and if any of my brothers are helping them, if there were any, that is. I don’t like to ask questions, you know? I truly try to mind my own business, but you just are the first outsider that I’ve seen in a while. Do you not miss your family, man?”

These words triggered another trip through Eron’s memories, which he quickly put aside. This was another conversation that he wasn’t willing to have. At least his plan wasn’t to go any deeper than what was necessary.

“I kind of miss my older brother. But with the rest of the family, I really wasn’t that close with any of them. I talked a lot with his… uh… wife… and I do miss her, too. But really, I don’t really miss my dad or the… town I lived in before.”

The small pauses and second thoughts had suddenly caught Jake’s attention. He had noticed that these clues were heavily hinting at a deeper and hidden part of Eron’s former life story.

That part that the foreigner refused to let anybody know…

“So, you left without thinking of going back? That’s really brave of you, bro. And chose to stay here?! You’re either crazy or are a loose serial killer who’s wanted by the police in different countries, who thinks that he won’t be found here. Sorry dude, but your story is that… uh… unique.”

“Heh… if you only knew,” the newbie whispered to himself.

Eron let out a hearty laugh, more out of irony than sincerity, and started editing the words in his head before it spilled out of his mouth…

“To be honest, Jack, I wasn’t really living or spending time with my family anymore. It had been like that for quite a long while now. My father wasn’t really happy with me and always favored my older brother, because I wasn’t up to his standards. Meanwhile, my brother ended up being an obnoxious overachiever, but I guess that comes with the role he’s supposed to have in the family. Although I’m still thankful that he made me feel like I’m truly his younger sibling from time to time. I just had to find my own life away from them, that’s all.”

And so that was it. If there was something truly real from all that Eron had said to Jack during his job interview or any time after, it was that!

“So, I got myself into different countries, mostly using working visas, and got busy. Now here I am today at your lumber company, and I think I’m going to like it here. Compared to my former work, this is all pretty new and amazing to me.”

He paused a moment, still seeing in the back of his mind the countless memories that the conversation was triggering. So many things he never wanted to talk about, or would even dare to say to just anyone…

“Aaaand… if you ever, for any reason, wanted to go back home, Eron, will you give me notice or just disappear?” asked the lumberyard employer with concern.

“Oh, I don’t think I’ll leave, Jack. Besides, my father would never take me back. As a matter of fact, he would probably kill me the moment he saw me walking towards the family house,” Eron said with a sad smile.

“That’s a shame, man. Families are meant to be close; you know. Especially during the hard times…”

Now it was Jack’s turn to stare out into the distance, his memories now running scenes from his past. He couldn’t help it, since every time he thought of his family, he would think of all of them.

Including the ones whom he was not even certain if they were still alive…