Cicada Molting in Autumn Mist Near Santiago

Thick white mist rests on the bark of a tree near Santiago de Querétaro, softening the rough, gray textures of the trunk. In low-angle orange light, a cicada emerges from its split exoskeleton, its new wings still crumpled and pale. The old shell hangs vertically, translucent and amber-tinted, holding the empty form of the insect's previous life. Fresh droplets of moisture glisten on the bark beside the molt, reflecting the honeyed evening sun. The creature's delicate legs grip the wood, trembling slightly as it pulls free. Behind the new body, the shadow of the old shell stretches long and thin across the misty air, a stark outline against the fading gold. one drop of sap rests on the edge of the split case.