No offense here but I feel that the only thing linking this image to the challenge topic is the title, I just don´t see it. At least if you had a sky as the backround or something like that it would fit better. Still didn´t really vote as DNMC, just wanted to point out how I see this image.
Lovely profile portrait - like the lighting. Challenge tie-in is very title-dependent; without it I'd say this is more "Hope" or even "Seeking" perhaps.