The Seal Stone

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make: should I venture into the woods despite my g

ive myself so well, but every time I looked toward the forest, the chance of seeing him felt

d being my first friend, I believed Cesur was my first love. I knew I wasn't truly in love

of chilled tea from my cup and stood up to go to bed. I struggled to cover a yawn with my hand as I q

bbing pain in my arm made my entire body ache-that damn night had come for me again. I knew I would spend the rest

ed from the far side of the forest. I remembered Cesur saying the wolves were his friends; I still clung to that childish dream and believed everything he told me. I was sure he was som

ntually drifted back to sleep. When I woke up in the

prepared a light breakfast, and took my place on the porch. Chewing on a piece of bread, I kept my eyes fix

my closet and changed. Even if I didn't find Cesur, I missed the forest and was eager to visit my tree aft

catch my breath, questioning if I was truly sure about this. Just l

and popping them into my mouth. At eighteen, I finally settled the debate I coul

d begun. It had grown a bit larger, but time hadn't taken

e expecting anyone anyway. I sat on the ground with my back pressed against the trunk and began filling my lungs with the clean scent of the forest. Th

the sound became unmistakable. I had heard a sound just like this the day I first met Cesur, but I wasn't sure if I possessed the same courage I had back then. Should I

hoed in my ears. Was my heart racing out of terror or the desperate hope of seeing Cesur again? I wasn't s

y carrying me toward the sound. With every

roze in m

azon woman?* In that moment, I was no different from a helpless gazelle. I needed a plan imme

osing in on its target-I fought the urge to collapse and faint. Surround by five alert wolve

h the air. In response, the other four wolves bared

hed I had the chance to hug my grandfather one last time. I hadn't listened to

lves, wondering if I even had time

sl

zen body suddenly thawed. I

su

what was more shocking-that he still remembered my name, or that he was actua

er and stronger than I was. There was no trace of the timid child I first met; n

moment I looked at Cesur, his fear became tangible, wrapping around me. His furrowed brows, tight lips, and te

of here!"

, or the realization that if I left, I might never see him again? I couldn't decide

don my childhood friend to a pack of wolves. I wanted to

ike me, Cesur stepped forward, his expression

he sc

heading back toward the path. Even when my lungs burned like a bomb about to explode, I didn't st

I was a coward, and I would never forgive myself for leaving the per

He's dead.

relentlessly i

he trail. I stayed in that exact spot, waiting for him to emerge. If he came back, I

ed, I broke down, sobbing hysterically for hours: "He's dead!" Though he couldn't un

ed off to sleep, but when morning