Catch a Falling Star

Kusa_village1

It was another summer night, and Page and Alli sat in their respective rocking chairs, on the porch of Alli’s old house – her dilapidated hang-out spot, from her high school days, spent with Nealy and Aro. The night sky stretched out before them, like a future full of promise.

Page jumped up, with a sudden enthusiasm, “Get up for a second, will you?”

Alli looked confused, “What? Why?”

“Just stand up. One moment!” Page laughed.

Alli got up. Page grasped her arms and turned Alli around, so that she was standing behind Alli, “Close your eyes!”

“OK?” Alli grinned.

She felt a necklace being placed around her neck, and gasped, opening her eyes, “You shouldn’t have!”

Page had placed a diamond pendant, on a silver chain, around her neck, “See how it shines like the stars, up in the sky? They’re all there for you, Sky Avatar. Always remember that there are still good things, out there, in this world.”

They both looked up at the moon and the canopy of the heavens, from their little wooden porch, floating in space and time.

catch a falling star

Love is a Haunting

Sabrina's Haunter

Seaweed twisted and floated overhead. Dappled sunlight cut through the waves and rippled down from above.

Alli was walking, on the shallow ocean floor, in a white suit. Gray, wooden buildings lined the street, on either side, underwater. The doorways yawned, black, empty entrances, that doubled as windows to oblivion.

The water was clear. Nealy also walked, far ahead, in a beige suit, instead – her beige suit. Her orange hair floated behind her, longer than Alli remembered, dangling in a loose braid, stray wisps sticking out in every direction. The halo on a sun. The corona, the crown.

Alli walked behind her, dragging an ax on the ground, holding the yellow handle in her left hand. The blade cut up clods and carved out furrows of brown sand, which curled into clouds, following in Alli’s wake.

Nealy turned and met her gaze. The green eyes that locked with Alli’s, over the thin shoulder were unmistakable. Alli knew it was Nealy, but it could have been anyone. She barely recognized her anymore. The memory was shredded to ribbons.

Alli woke up in tears, staring up into the cold, still night.

I did everything for you, her lone thought hung in the darkness, rattling in the air, like a question.

smiley

Second image courtesy of Kristina Stipetic

Music

Beyoncé – “Haunted”