Abel helped me with the dress pants. It was still hard to dress myself, especially when it came to trousers, but he only had to help me a little now. I couldn't get my leg to bend enough to get my foot into the trouser leg, so Abel had to help me there. Even though I didn't have as much pain in my knee anymore, it was still stiff.

I had decided to try and look presentable for the art show. Even if I only had a couple of paintings I had donated to the gallery, I still wanted to enjoy having something hanging in a real gallery. Even if it was just some simple watercolour landscapes. Abel had wanted them, like he wanted everything else, so I was pretty sure he was going to buy them at the gallery. But hey, it was all to support the lady running the whole thing. She was so good at helping students curate their shows and would always lend us her space for our exhibitions.

Abel had promised to make a donation as well. He was mostly interested in buying my paintings, but he'd also buy other things if they interested him.

"You're acting like those rich art patrons," I said as I hauled my trousers up and shoved my dress shirt into them.

Abel hauled my shirt up again and redid it, so it looked better. "What else is there to spend money on than art?"

"Me?" I chuckled and lifted my head as he buttoned up the shirt.

"You are my most prized piece of art, Gael," he said so endlessly softly, getting me to tip my head down and gently pressed his lips to my forehead.

"So smooth," I murmured and got him to kiss me on the mouth this time. He deepened the kiss, slowly, making me want to undo all his hard work with the shirt and trousers. The way his tongue pressed against mine, left me longing for it to press against other parts of my body.

But we really didn't have time for that now. Unfortunately.

Like of all things to have power over, why didn't we have power over time? Like really? I could turn into a wolf, and my boyfriend could turn into a big bat-like thing and drink blood, and neither of us could control time? Useless. Absolutely useless.

We got finished and out the door with Dave in tow. Might as well socialise the old dog, otherwise he'd be all pissy and give us these looks from his own dog bed, which he never used. He only used it when he was mad at us. Like when we had left him alone for too long. Then he did everything to look as neglected as possible. So, to avoid a senior dog temper tantrum, we brought the old man along.

I held Abel's arm one hand, my crutch in the other, while he held onto Dave's leash. Abel had found this adorable bowtie for Dave, and I had taken an embarrassing number of pictures.

"Nervous?" Abel asked as we approached the main street where the gallery was located.

"Am I that transparent?" I had been walking slower than what I actually needed. I could've walked faster, but I wanted to drag things out. I wasn't ready. Even if I had occasionally met some of my classmates or teachers around town, it wasn't the same. I could escape there. Here I had nowhere to escape to because I was supposed to be there and be all artist-like and stand by my paintings. And what if everyone hated my paintings?

"What if I just sat down and died on the curb, think anyone would notice?" I asked as we got closer and closer to the gallery.

"Probably," Abel chuckled and pulled me a little closer.

The town had been decorated with bright coloured lights hanging across the street between the buildings. The main street had been closed off from cars so everyone could wander about between shops. Some had put out stalls on by the curb as well and at the end of the street a stage had been built so local bands could play.

The whole mood was so cosy. After the new town council had been chosen, they had started to brighten up the life here. It didn't feel so intermittent anymore. This was a permanent place with a life of its own, not only tied in with the seasons of the university. Winter hadn't become a time where everything was dormant, it was a time for lights and life. And I loved it. I felt myself becoming more ingrained as well. I wanted to participate in the life here.

We stopped in front of the gallery, and I took a deep breath. Alright, time to be a hardcore badass artist werewolf and not a little pissbaby. I let go of Abel and stepped over the threshold. Fred immediately appeared and grabbed my arm, smiling widely.

"Finally! We're about to open in a second. Just waiting for you to get here so Katarina can make her speech."

Katarina, the owner of the gallery, was dressed in a long black cardigan with a matching barrette. She really lived up to all the artist stereotypes with her big, black-framed glasses and shoulder-length dark hair. She even had the iconic nose piercing. She spoke with the gentlest voice too as if everything was said through velvet. Each word carefully spoken out into the room, as if we were all too fragile for her to put even the slightest edge or bass into her voice. It was no secret I was a lover of all things soft.

Katarina introduced the different artists and took us through how to reserve artworks for the intentions of purchase. And then the show was officially open. People were a little hesitant at first, but then they got a little cheap wine in them, and everyone started circling the space. I was nervous too at first, but then I got wine too. I loosened up and didn't feel as on edge anymore.

Fred's paintings hung next to mine so we could easily just stand by each other for moral support. I was always nervous about talking to people about my paintings, because to be honest... I always felt like an ass.

But it was going okay. I talked to some people about my landscapes and capturing the local nature. They were excited about it as they were locals too and had been for generations.

"Maybe there's a market for you there," Fred joked.

"Hey, everyone has to find their niche, right?" I chuckled, checking my phone to make sure one of the locals had sent me money for the painting. She had and she excitedly came back with Katarina and almost jumped up and down as the gallery owner put a red sticker by my painting.

Abel came over withtwo glasses of wine and noticed the sticker, almost matching the buyer's energyand excitement. It was ridiculously cute.