Ben made it to Maryland spending most of it ignoring the hikers he encountered letting the forest take over his spirit like moss on a tree.  There were signs letting hikers know a town was near, so he left the trail to go into town to go to the post office, and pick up supplies.  He decided to spend the night in one of the cabins along the trail.  They’d been built specifically for hikers to stay in a bed with access to hot water.  Ben paid the owner’s wife for the evening and she told him that dinner would be served at sunset so he’d have enough time to wash up. 

When he looked in the mirror his face shocked him.  His beard was long, dark, and wiry.  He thought about shaving, but decided that he’d keep...

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