Fear

After blinking my eyes a few times, I wake up.

As I lie still for a few minutes to get my bearings, I feel a beam of light on my face. I turn to the side where it is coming from. Then I see it.

It comes from outside through the thin curtains in my bedroom.

After taking some breaths, I throw my feet over the edge of the bed and walk to the window. As I slide the curtains aside, my heart skips a beat. Right in front of me, the Full Moon stares directly at me. It has a bright red border but is as white as snow. It feels like something personal between it and me, like it has a score to settle with me. With large worried eyes, I stare back at it, wondering what doom it foretells this time. Tomorrow is the mating ceremony, where Ralph will also mark me and then bind me to him forever. Does this moon challenge me because I can no longer avert my fate?

With a tug I close both curtains blocking the light from this bad omen. I turn my back to the window and bury my face desperately in my ha