When I was through developing the film I looked at some of the best pictures I had ever taken. Putting the photos of my mystical princess aside, I went into town and showed them to the local newspaper. To my delight, they bought a few of the pictures to print in the next day's paper. Mr. Darby; the editor; told me if I got more pictures he would like to see them. He offered me a job as a photo journalist; and seeing as I wasn't really doing anything; I decided to take him up on his offer. A hand shake was our contract and our deal was signed. While leaving the newspaper office, I heard gun shots coming from the forest. Going back in the office, I inquired about it and Darby told me it was hunting season. There were a few people trying to get the big buck that reigned in this forest. I prayed that no one would kill this magnificent creature.
Thinking about the wonderful evening with this mystical Princess of the forest, I decided to take a long stroll in the afternoon. I wanted it to be alone with my thoughts of her. I found my thoughts and memories very mystifying and tantalizing. It was so incredible that the heavens had chosen to give me a harvest moon. A moon of a honey yellow; vibrant and warm, it gave me this incredibly sensuous feeling. I had felt extraordinarily exotic, as it brought a wonderful deep feeling to my hollow, empty soul. Stimulating me, erupting my spirit into thousands of tiny fire works. I wanted to run down the hidden path to her, so I might be able to touch her tender soul once again this very day, for it is her heart that nurtures the beauty of nature. During the day her soul is hidden from me, but I wonder if she can feel the gentle breeze whispering to her like I whispered last night. Now; as the cloak of darkness sets upon us again; I wonder if she can hear me whispering to her. Images of her have been seducing my mind and I feel enchanted by the harvest moon. I will make my way around the black of night, towards the dawning of a new day and hopefully to her.
During the next few nights I go out to the glen in hopes of seeing her and talking to her. I am hoping to find out her name and where she lives, but it is all quiet. I don't even see any of the tiny animals around and there is no sign of the magnificent buck. I can only pray the hunters haven't found him. Walking back to my home I look up at the moon, crescent shaped and dimmed by the mist of the river. The glow on the river is a golden hue and looking up I gaze at the Big Dipper. Finding the Little Dipper, I think of her eyes as the stars. They twinkle in the black satin sky as I stand in the midnight glow of the crescent moon.
My eyes look into the vast night sky, highlighted by the tiny little sparkles of light. The cool breeze is soft and gentle, sending chills over me. The water flowing over the fallen trees and rocks splashes softly against the shoreline. There's the incredible aroma of jasmine filling the air as I close my eyes and I go back to a time where there was happiness and joy and love in my life. The feelings she has brought back to my soul, my heart, feelings that have been missing for too long. I walk home, listening to the nightingale softly sing its beautiful song long into the night.
It was an unseasonably warm night and as the sun was setting, the beautiful golden rays shone brightly through the trees. I watched as it set behind the snowy mountain tops. The sky turns a velvety black with hundreds of beautiful sparkling stars, twinkling and glowing brightly in the sky. I decide to go for a walk into the forest and grabbing my flash light I head out. In the distance above the tree tops there was the moon, the night of the lunar eclipse was upon us. As I watched; the moon turns a deep red; almost a purple. A few clouds seem to surround it casting an eerie image. As I start to walk into the forest, there's an owl hooting at me like a sentry in front of an army compound. It flies away and I walk through the thickets slowly so I don't fall and scare anything. In the distance I hear the nightingale singing and smell the sweet aroma from burning oak and pine wood. I start to move faster to get to the glen. I clear the thickets and go into the clearing and I see her. She is wearing a transparent flowered Chantilly lace blouse and skirt. I walk up to her and see her bright smile. I give her a hug then I touch my finger to her lips and I introduce myself.
"Hi, my name is Brock Thomas and it's wonderful to meet you."
"It's nice to meet you too, Mr. Thomas," she says with a smile. "My name is Thalia."
