I went to my room to clear my thoughts. The day had been exhausting, I was exhausted, and I didn’t even realize what time I had fallen asleep. Dad’s voice calling me to dinner woke me up.I went down to the kitchen.“I brought pizza, honey,” Dad said, smiling. “I thought you’d like something easy and quick.”“Thanks, Dad,” I replied, trying to sound enthusiastic despite my tiredness. I sat at the table, and he served me a slice.We sat in silence for a moment, eating. Dad watched me with a mix of concern and curiosity. He knew something was bothering me but didn’t want to push.“Everything okay, Eva?” he finally asked, breaking the silence.I nodded slowly, trying to seem calm. “Yes, it’s just been a long day. A lot to think about.”Dad frowned slightly but didn’t press further. “Well, if you need to talk, I’m here. And if not, we always have pizza to lift our spirits.”I smiled, grateful for his attempt to cheer me up. “Thanks, Dad. Really.”We finished eating in comfortable silence.
The next day we were at high school, watering the plants in our garden. We were all outside, there was a light drizzle and it was very cold. The teacher was explaining photosynthesis and all that."Remember, kids, photosynthesis is the process by which plants convert sunlight into energy," the teacher said while holding a wet leaf. "It's essential for their growth and for maintaining the balance of our ecosystem."I was engrossed in the class, concentrating on the teacher's words. I must keep studying and not think about other things. I don't like doing poorly in classes."Eva," the teacher called, snapping me out of my thoughts. "Could you briefly explain the function of chloroplasts in photosynthesis?"I nodded, trying to recall what we had learned. "Chloroplasts are the organelles in plant cells where photosynthesis occurs. They contain chlorophyll, which captures the energy from sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen.""Exactly," replied the teacher w
When I got home, I felt exhausted. Everything was lonely and strange. I felt a strange presence just now. Maybe it's just the stress. I went to the kitchen and made myself a sandwich because I was hungry. At that moment, I heard a noise in the living room. I froze because I feared it might be a wolf again.My heart began to pound as I remained motionless, trying to hear any other noise that would confirm my suspicion. I grabbed a knife from the kitchen drawer, more out of instinct than thinking I could use it against a wolf. I walked slowly toward the living room, trying not to make any noise.When I reached the threshold of the living room, I saw a shadow move quickly past the window. I stood there paralyzed, unsure whether to move closer or back away and run. The shadow seemed human, but with what I had learned recently, I couldn't be sure of anything."Who's there?" My voice came out more trembling than I had expected.There was no response, just an unsettling silence. I took a dee
"I trust you, Kessler, but I need to know more. I don't want to live with doubts," I said, keeping my gaze fixed on his.Kessler sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Alright. It's fair that you know. My pack and I... we've had conflicts in the past, with other packs and with humans. Some decisions I made weren't the best. It was a dark time, but I've changed. What Alex told you... well, it's true to a certain extent, but he doesn't know the whole story.""What decisions?" I asked, feeling a knot in my stomach."Decisions that involved fighting and protecting my pack from external threats," Kessler replied somberly. "There were clashes and... some lives were lost. I don't want you to think I'm a monster, Eva. I did what I thought was necessary at the time."I stayed silent, trying to process what he was telling me. "Kessler, I'm not perfect, and I don't expect you to be either. But I need transparency. If we're going to be together, there can't be any secrets."He nodded slowly. "
“Dad, it wasn’t necessary to kill him,” I responded quickly, trying to calm him down. “He wasn’t attacking us; he was just curious.”Dad looked at me with a mix of surprise and incredulity. “It was a wolf, Eva! It could have killed you.”“I know,” I replied, trying to sound reasonable. “But it didn’t. It kept its distance and showed no signs of aggression. Maybe it was more scared than we were.”Lucas approached, also looking concerned. “Are you sure about what you did, Eva? Dad was just trying to protect you.”I nodded, firm in my conviction. “Yes, I’m sure. Sometimes, animals just need a bit of space. We shouldn’t assume the worst immediately.”Dad sighed, lowering his rifle. “Alright, Eva. But I want you to be more cautious. We can’t always predict the behavior of wild animals.”“I understand, Dad,” I replied, feeling a bit more relieved. “I’ll be more careful.”We spent the rest of the day in the forest, learning more about hunting and survival. However, my mind kept returning to
The next morning, I woke up to the sound of birds singing and the soft rays of sunlight streaming through the window. It was Sunday, a day we usually enjoyed the tranquility at home. Dad didn't work, and we all usually spent the day as a family. However, today would be different. Kessler had invited me to a barbecue with his family and the pack near the lake, and although I hesitated at first, I finally agreed. I knew this was an important opportunity to get closer to his family and understand his world better.After breakfast, I went to my room to get ready. I felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. What would Kessler's pack be like? How would they receive me? While choosing a casual but nice outfit, my mind kept running through all the possible scenarios. I finally opted for comfortable jeans and a light blouse, suitable for an outdoor barbecue.When I went downstairs, Dad and Lucas were in the living room watching TV. Lucas looked at me curiously and a mischievous smile appeared
The time in the clearing seemed to stand still, enveloping us in a bubble of peace and connection. But we knew we couldn't stay there forever. Kessler stood up first, extending a hand to help me to my feet."It's time to head back to the barbecue," he said with a smile, "although I could stay here with you all day."We made our way back to the group, following the same path we had taken to arrive. As we walked, the shadow of worry had faded from Kessler's face, replaced by a serene determination. I felt relieved to be by his side in these important moments for him.Upon our return, we found the pack in full enjoyment. The aroma of grilled meat and laughter filled the air. We joined the group, and soon I found myself in lively conversation with Kessler's mother about family recipes and culinary traditions. She was a lovely woman, and her warmth made me feel at home.Meanwhile, Kessler mingled with his father and some other pack members, discussing what I assumed were important leadersh
The barbecue was coming to an end. The embers were slowly dying out as the last rays of the sun faded on the horizon. The pack was saying their goodbyes with hugs and warm words, promising to meet again at the next gathering. Kessler and I stayed a bit longer, helping his mother gather the last remnants of food and clean up the area."Thank you for everything, ma'am," I said, giving her a hug. "It's been a wonderful day.""I'm glad you enjoyed it, Eva," she replied with a smile. "Remember, you will always be welcome here."Kessler approached and wrapped his arm around me, looking at me with affection. "Ready to go?""Yes," I responded, feeling a bit tired but happy.We said our goodbyes and started walking towards Kessler's car, which was parked a few minutes away. The night was cool and the sky was sprinkled with stars, creating a tranquil and serene atmosphere. We walked in silence, enjoying each other's company.Suddenly, Kessler stopped and tensed his body. "Did you hear that?" he