Cursed by the Moon

Through the long, treacherous night, a heavy cloud of despair weighed upon my heart. Each step I took towards the towering castle only deepened my sense of foreboding. The vast, rugged terrain seemed to conspire against us, causing me to stumble over hidden rocks, though I was grateful that the storm had yet to unleash its full fury.

The isolation I felt was palpable, seeping into my veins with every breath, as the reality of leaving our pack, our home, settled like a haunting spectre in my mind.

Wrapped tightly in my scarf, its fabric offering a meagre shield against the biting wind, I trudged onward. The weight of responsibility bore down on me, the burden of ensuring my mother's safety and well-being resting solely on my shoulders. Her tired eyes, etched with lines of worry and fatigue, served as a constant reminder that I was her sole caretaker now.

As we neared the summit of the mountain, exhaustion gnawed at my mother's strength. With laboured breaths, she signalled her need for a brief respite. Her voice, filled with weariness and desperation, quivered as she spoke, "I can't... go on... much longer, my dear. I've... failed you..."

Tears warmed up in my eyes as I knelt beside her, taking her trembling hands in mine. "No, Mama," I whispered, my voice laced with determination. "You haven't failed me. We're in this together. We'll find a way. Just a little further, I promise."

Her gaze, filled with love and gratitude, was locked with mine. "You're... so strong, my child. I couldn't ask for a better daughter." Her words, feeble but heartfelt, carried the weight of a lifetime of sacrifices. The words wrapped around me, so comforting and soothing.

As fatigue and cold hugged into her old body, I clung to her, desperate to keep her with me. Panic laced my voice as I pleaded, "Stay with me, Mama. Please, have hope"

Her voice, barely a whisper, reassured me with fading strength. "You... will always carry me... in your heart. You're... my strength."

I sobbed, unable to hold back the flood of emotions. "But I need you here, Mama. I can't do this alone."

A gentle smile curved her pale lips. "You're... never alone. Remember... our love... will guide you."

At that moment, as her grip on life slipped away, my world shattered. I cradled her lifeless body, tears streaming down my cheeks, as I cried out in anguish. "Mama, please! Don't leave me! I need you!"

But the wind carried my desperate pleas into the night, unanswered. My heart ached with a profound emptiness as if a vital piece had been torn away. Yet, even in my grief, her words echoed within me, igniting a flicker of determination to honour her memory and carry her love forward.