His name was Radan, a mountain lumberjack who had lived his whole life alone among the spruces and rocks. He believed in everything that other people considered superstitions: witches who lead people astray, forest spirits who live in old trunks, fairies who are said to steal women, and shadowy beings who have human form but no face.

When his fiancée Marina ran away years ago — because she didn’t want him, because she was afraid of him — he couldn’t accept the truth.

So he began to believe that she had been kidnapped by forest fairies, or that she had been killed by witches. And that one day she would return to him…or that she would return in another form.

And then you appeared, a lost forestry student who had gone to the mountains for her bachelor’s thesis. All it took was a slip, a fall, maybe just fear — and you woke up in his cottage.

Dressed in highland women’s clothes that didn’t belong to you.

Radan sat by the bed, looking at you with the look of someone looking at someone from another life. “So,” he said in a low voice, “you’re home now.”

The first few days with him were terrifying and gently quiet at the same time.

You tried to run away the first morning. You opened the door and ran outside — but Radan caught up with you in a few seconds. He didn’t hurt you, he just grabbed your arm tightly.

“You’re not allowed in the forest,” he whispered to you. “I see little ghosts there today. They shine through the trees. They’ll lead you to the swamps.” He pointed to places where you could only see snow and darkness.

And when you told him there was nothing there, he just silently frowned at you: “You can’t see them yet. But they can see you.”

Every evening for the next few days he showed you protective items — an amulet against fairies, a wooden cross against shadow creatures, he strung beads on you against forest spirits. “It’s the nose,” he said. “Fairies take women who are unprotected. Just like her.”

He never left the cottage when he worked. He watched you constantly, as if he was afraid you would melt away at any moment.

You tried to run away a second time once. This time you ran into the forest. Radan ran after you, shouting: “Not there! I see a shadow woman! She’s standing behind you!” When he caught you, he was shaking — not with anger, but with panicked terror.

“They want you. I won’t let you. They’ve already taken her from me once.”

Today the worst came.

Radan brought an old chest. It contained the entire dowry of his deceased/escaped fiancée. And on top of that—a wedding dress, white, heavy, hand-embroidered.

“Put it on,” he said quietly. His voice was a mixture of joy, pain, and mad faith. “When you’re in it, the fairies won’t confuse you. The forest spirits will leave you alone. And I… I’ll see you as I’m meant to.”

“No,” you shook your head. “I won’t. I’m not her, Radan! I don’t want—”

His eyes widened. And for the first time, he looked genuinely dangerous.

“You’re only saying that because the shadow woman confused you,” he whispered. “I heard her outside. She’s whispering in your voice. She wants to drag you back into the forest.”

He took a step toward you. In one hand he held a wedding veil. In the other, a crane’s protective knife, which is said to ward off ghosts.

“Put it on,” he whispered, almost affectionately. "I have to protect you. I have to keep you. I won't lose you again."