Hey guys!  Here is my entry for the Emotions Contest!  I have a story that relates my skin, Hope, to the contest theme.  :)

Story~~
   The young man pulled his hood over his head, protecting his face from the wind and rain.  He looked down at his compass where the hand faced homeward, the Eastern Foothills of the Brotherhood Mountain Range, known for its ferocious summer storms.  With a deep sigh the young man continued on the muddy path leading to the cliff that overshadows his home road.  Though the storm was treacherous the man held a hope deep in his heart.  A small flame of excitement sparked in the traveler as he reached the cliff, but as he looked out it began to dwindle.  A wall of hail moved quickly across the forest, battering the trees as it rushed towards the cliff.  The young man planted his feet into the mud and braced himself for the impact of strong winds and hail, but he was no where near ready for it’s force.
    The wind blasted into his face, causing him to stumble back and hail stung like flying shards of glass.  He cried out in shock and fell to his knees, dread filled the young man, for now he could hardly see the path ahead of him nor the looming hills where his home resides.  Lightning streaked across the sky followed by a roll of thunder that lit up the path for a second, the young man knew where he was to go next, the steep road to the forest.  He was going to return to his home in one peace, he was going to see his hope again.  The traveler struggled against the wind down to the road that had become a river due to the rainwater racing down hill.  
    He grit his teeth, the road was the only way down from the steep hills of the Brotherhood Mountain.  He placed a foot in the rushing water, trying to find a good foothold when suddenly a deep rumbling filled the air.  The man turn around and saw the trees on the western hill shake and fall, a massive wall of water loomed over him.  His life flashed in front of him, he saw his wife, a young maiden with hair the color of the sunrise and the dress colored like the blue sky.  He stared into her deep blue eyes, I’m sorry.  He said softly as he reached out and touched her face.  The wave hit.  Water filled the young man’s mouth and he felt himself move down hill, being crushed by the pressure of the water.   Everything turned black.


    The man opened his heavy eyes.  A bright light blinded him then faded softly followed by a muffled sound like a cannon.  He turned his head and took in his surroundings.  The man lay on top of a pile of downed trees with branches filled with stones and mud.  He struggled to his knees, the world around him began to spin and blur.  His body felt battered and bruised and his cloak was torn and filled with mud.  He lifted his eyes and saw the cliff on which he stood an hour before.  The young man groaned and picked himself up. The wind had ceased and the rain was soft.
    The man laughed out in joy and amazement once he realized that he had survived.  He glanced up at the sky and saw a few clouds begin to part, revealing the bright light of the rising sun.  The rising sun, the maiden with hair like the sunrise…  The man limped back to the road and made his way to the hills where his home resides.  A small cottage sat on the top of the hill, in the window sat a candle where a faint light spilled into the dark forest.  The man walked up the  cobblestone path and suddenly the door opened.  A golden light flooded onto the man and the surrounding forest.  His eyes lit up with joy as he saw his hope.  A young woman with hair glowing gold in the candle light like the sunrise and a dress the color of the soft blue sky stepped out and gaped at her husband.  Her deep blue eyes twinkled and brimmed with tears of joy as she ran into his arms.
 
“My hope.” The man whispered gently as he wrapped his arms around his wife.
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I have seen a lot of people make "Sad", "Angry", "Rage", "Fear", and negitive themes skins so I decided to make "Hope"!  I want you all to know that there is hope in every situation you face.  Sometimes it is hard to see it, you just need to look harder.  :)