moonlit summer love

Lost in the woods

As I ventured deeper into the woods, the dense canopy of trees enveloped me, and the sunlight filtered through the leaves in a dappled pattern. Despite the peaceful surroundings, my heart raced with each rustle of leaves and snap of a twig. I couldn't shake off the nagging sensation that something was watching me, and I quickened my pace.

My thoughts turned to Michael. I had to make things right with him. The guilt of forgetting to pay him gnawed at me, and I knew I had to find him and make amends. The thought of his disappointment or anger made me feel even worse.

Despite my fear, I was determined to find him. With each step, I took deep breaths and willed myself to calm down. I couldn't let my emotions get the best of me.

As I trudged through the woods, my mind raced with thoughts of what I would say to Michael when I found him. I rehearsed apologies and explanations in my head, desperate to make things right. The guilt weighed heavily on me, and I couldn't shake off the feeling that I had let Michael down.

But as the trees thinned out, and I emerged into a small clearing, I was struck by the beauty of the surroundings. The sun was starting to set, and the golden light illuminated the leaves in a warm glow. In that moment, I felt a sense of peace wash over me, and my anger and fear dissipated.

It didn't last long... my fear came back when I heard a howl in the distance. It was long and mournful, sending shivers down my spine. I knew it meant the wolves were nearby, and I couldn't help but feel a twinge of terror.

"What was that?" I whispered to herself, trying to keep calm.

Suddenly, a rustling in the bushes made me jump. I spun around, heart racing, and saw a pair of glowing eyes staring back at her. I froze, unsure of what to do next.

"Is that... a wolf?" I asked myself, my mind racing.

The eyes blinked, and I realized with relief that it was just a stray cat. I let out a nervous laugh, feeling foolish for getting so worked up.

"I need to get out of here before I start seeing werewolves," I joked to myself, but my heart was still racing. I quickened my pace, trying to put as much distance as possible between myself and the howling in the distance.

As I rounded a bend in the path, a flicker of light caught my eye. I hesitated for a moment before approaching, but curiosity got the better of me. As I drew closer, the sounds of laughter and chatter filled my ears, and I could see a group of people gathered around a roaring campfire. Their faces were illuminated by the warm glow, and I couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy at their apparent carefree enjoyment.

I spotted Claire from a distance, huddled around the campfire with a group of people. It was a welcome sight, given the creepy encounter I had just faced.

As I approached the group, Claire's bright smile welcomed me. "Hey there, stranger!" she greeted me with a warm hug. "What brings you out here in the middle of the night?"

"I'm actually looking for someone," I replied, eyeing the group around the fire. "Do you know Michael? He's the head of the town council and he helped me fix my water and electricity system."

As soon as I mentioned Michael, Claire's demeanor shifted. Her smile faded, and she looked at me with a mix of surprise and guardedness. It was a subtle change, but I could sense her unease.

"Michael? Yeah, I know him," she said, her voice trailing off. "But he's not here right now. He's in the city, and he won't be back until Sunday. How do you know him?"

I couldn't help but feel disappointed. I really needed to talk to Michael about the payment for his services, and now it seemed like I had missed my chance.