Bared By The Moon

the storm, before the exhibition. Closing my eyes, the image of the wolf, silhouetted against the dawn, burned into my

el's

xhibition, ever, and Mrs. Dubois's "emergencies" were already legendary. Our faculty advisor, not quite a curator b

navigating the labyrinth of lecture halls and the ev

ghtly stale coffee filling my nostrils – the scent everyone else ass

on the wall – my "Frozen Moments" logo, a stylized snowflake

nged. To prove I wasn't just some transfer student trying to fit in. Bu

first visit, taking photos for this very exhibition, had led me to the woods. And in those woods, I'd met a wolf. And

king a tightrope, high above t

s arms flailing precariously as he balanced on a wobbly chair. Li

ncentration. Chloe, petite with beautiful brown hair and plump lips just like mine, was the anchor in my l

eful!" I exclaimed, my voice cracking with

got this. Besides," he added with a wink, "

nvolve your clumsy self destroying Hazel's a

he hidden beauty in the heart of the city – the stark contrast of nature reclaiming

e to prove myself after the...incident. The gallery owner's dismissive remarks still stung

ontrolled chaos. Izzy, from my art class, chewed her lip, adjusting the lighting, muttering about "warm tones and

et that simmered beneath my skin – the secret I suspected was connected

nst the cityscape. Ever since my encounter with the wolf, I'd felt a strange pull towards the wo

l. Wild. And there was some

ke through my reverie. "Everything

n jitters," I mumbl

, finally managing to hang the pr

ll those eyes, judging my work, judging me. Relief washed over me

of the other side of me, the part drawn to the wild, the part that dreamt of

colades. The room hummed with polite chatter. I moved through the crowd, exchanging

eck against that vast, breathtaking landscape." The image came alive in my mind

s," I continued, my voice gaining momentum. "They w

ient wisdom in their eyes." The atmosphere shift

near the back, his tall, imposi

ever leaving mine. Dressed casually, h

aw. His golden eyes, flecked with amber, held a mystery as deep as the forest. His lean, muscular body suggested a

nsity that made my breath catch, and benea

ne needles and something else, something wild and intoxicating. "Your

" I replied

city," he continued. "The wildnes

was trying to c

g smile that made my stomach

silence charged wi

ange pull, a connection I couldn't explain. It's l

ly mingle," I said,

ed. "I'll let you get

aze lingering. "I'll b

wd, unable to shake the feeling that

bout the way he looked at me, that made me

lasses, snippets of conversation. My mind kept drifting

ad survived. More than that, I connected with peop

ming. "You were amazing, Hazel!" Liam

added. "I told you you ha

ouldn't have done it wi

zzy and Javi

early," L

op it now, Hazel, you'll m

th love. "We're so proud of you, sweetheart," my mom said.

was lucky to have such supportive parents. And maybe one

folded piece of paper on the floor. I picked it up and

what y

the paper crinkling slightly. I loo

hat did they mean by "

erupted o