I thought I had come to terms with the loss of my husband Jason four years after he went missing while hiking alone. But when Scout, our old family dog, came back with Jason’s jacket in its mouth, I started a trip that would lead me to a shocking truth.
Jason was excited to spend time in nature with Scout by himself the day he left. He said he would come back soon, but he never did. Search teams looked for him for a while, but gave up in the end.
Small things like Jason’s climbing boots, coffee mug, and wool scarf helped me remember him over the years. When our kids asked about him, I told them stories to help them remember him.
When Scout came back, thin and dirty, with Jason’s jacket in his mouth, things changed. I went into the bush with Scout. My heart was beating fast with fear and hope.
The dog led me to a cabin in the middle of nowhere, where I found Jason living but not the same. He lived with a woman named Sarah and had grown a long beard and messy hair. It looked like they had made a life together without any rules from society.
I was shocked, angry, and sad all at the same time. I knew Jason, the man I loved, was gone when his reasons for leaving us behind didn’t make sense.
For some reason, I knew I had to move on, so I turned around and left the house. The next morning, I asked for a divorce and money to help my kids.
When I thought back, I realized that Jason’s absence wasn’t just his leaving the world, but also his leaving his feelings. He had chosen a different road, but I was moving forward with my plans to build a life based on love, stability, and honesty.
When Scout unexpectedly came back, it made me feel better and gave me more strength. I was ready to start over, to leave the past behind and face the future with heart and bravery.
I learned that telling the truth can be painful at times, but it’s necessary to move on. I had found a new, strong, and tough me who was ready for anything life had in store.
