The Secrets Behind the Eyes

artwork by Sally Lannier from Pinterest

 

The glow of the wolf’s  golden eyes bore into the man. What was the wolf thinking?  It had come out of nowhere, appearing on the man’ s path, as he was trudging home in the snow.

His hat was pulled down over his ears and his coat was zipped up to the top as a thick wool scarf encircled his face. He breathed into the warm scarf, feeling frozen in his tracks.  Should he keep moving? What would the wolf do? The wolf wasn’t blinking an eye. His gaze was transfixed on the man, in this staring contest that had suddenly began.

Did the wolf smell the man’s fear?  Was the wolf afraid?  Were their cubs that it was trying to protect? These thoughts passed through the man’s mind as the golden eyed wolf continued to stare into the man’s deep chestnut ones.

If the man took a step forward would the wolf as well? Would the man see his home tonight? Even if he did make it past the wolf and make it to his home,  would the door be thrown open to welcome him or would he be cast out, back into the cold? Was he really standing frozen in fear because of a staring contest with a wolf or was he  more fearful to take the final steps home, not knowing what awaited him there.

They continued to stare and a sharp wind began to blow, as the light of the full moon shined down.  It shone down on the lone two  figures. Two figures who were caught up in a silent dance, wondering who would take the lead. Two figures who held secrets inside of them.

Gradually the wolf took a step backwards, and then another one, as his eyes still stayed focused on the man. Then in a flash he turned and the man watched the beautiful  silver wolf run away into the deep snow.

The man stood there a little while longer, still lost in thought. Gradually he took a step forward and another one, as he continued on the path toward home.

Snowflakes began to fall and glisten in the moonlight. The snow shined like tiny diamonds. Soon the paw prints of the golden eyed wolf and the footprints of the chestnut eyed man were covered up by the falling snow. No trace was left of the secret meeting that had happened on a winter’s night, under a moonlit sky.