My submision for the Pixel Art Challenge (and Pixelween contest entry): In Space
*(Unexpected events caused me to have less time then anticipated, might change/clean up the poster/text later if I have time :P)

A interaction made between the longing.
The old woodsman greeted her, like he did every morning after her husband disappeared. Out of guilt perhaps, it wasn’t clear. This time, something was offered by him. It could barely fit in her hand and covered by a piece of cloth, with three stumps visible at the top. It was silent for a time, and when it was clear that neither had much else to say, the woodsman showed her a soft smile, before turning away.

The wrapping was still in her hand, but she did not open it, nor look at it for long, she simply put the package in her robes and looked on. Her thoughts weren’t close to her that day. She tried to not think about her husband, who suddenly died, deep down she knew, almost out of spite.
Not of the stumps of the three trees who once stood tall, where her dearest fisherman waved at still her every time at the sound of her call.
Not of the pained woodsman, now almost out of view, who out of the goodness of his hart had had simply done the only job he knew.
Not of the rumours of the creeping man in the woods, no longer safe…

No. Instead, they were higher. For in the sky, visible even in the morning light, three stars flew.
Three… Always three...  But prettier than anything else she had ever seen.
So for a little while, she could forget all the pain, as she looking at the light above, and let her thoughts wonder away.

The following morning, the woodsman, who would usually greet her at this time of day, was not to be seen.