"I regret nothing my love. Every moment with you was a gift. i had nothing to offer you. You showed kindness to a broken man. Made him feel love. Made him return it. Accept my kindness in return. It is all under the mattress. Take care."
The woman dropped the letter and stared at the man. Slowly she lifted the mattress where she used to sleep and found all the money saved from not eating, and odd jobs he took. The man lied in a small hut when he could have lived like a king. Enough was there to never work again but he did anyways. The girl was still young and beautiful. She was taken care of by her family.
Things didn't work out with the other man, but her pride wouldn't let her return here till now. She was afraid of the broken man. Didn't trust him to take care of her. Now she wished she had more time to take care of him. "I love you." she said to deaf ears. She cried and cried. Then followed him shortly after in her sleep.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Native Americans believed that when you truly love some you will follow them shortly after to death.