Story #2 - The Night Sky

Written May 3rd 2am. Published May 18th, 2024

Part of my Story. This is a fictional story that I wrote at 2am after reading part of Perlandrea by C.S. Lewis, and while looking out my window at the sky. I didn’t do any editing (similar to how I do my “Train of Thought”.html)

I wake up at 3am, throw on some clothes and look outside to see if it’s clear. Rose and I are planning to go star gazing tonight. It’s the middle of one of the largest meteor showers and it should be awe inspiring.

This is the first time we’ve been able to look at the meteor shower together. We’ve hung out in the meadow behind our houses a few times before well into the evening, even till midnight, but we’ve never had the chance to get up and see meteors. I’m very excited. I’ve been waiting a week for tonight.

Thankfully tonight is a Friday night which means I can sleep in tomorrow. I think we’ll probably stay out until the sunrise (which we normally watch together anyway). The beauty of a sunrise never ceases to amaze me. The reds, oranges and purples shining through the meadow and the forest are incredible. Rose and I often watch it from our rock on a slight hill. It’s my favorite thing in the world.

As I get up and grab a jacket, I take another peak outside. The stars are shining brightly and the moon has already set so it’s almost pitch dark out. We live in a fairly remote area so even parts of the Milky Way are visible. The twinkling of the countless stars fills me with awe and wonder every time I look at them.

Stepping out onto the path leading towards the field, I feel the brisk cold spring air hit my face. I love the spring and all the fresh life after the long winter. The green, the flowers, the leaves. But now it’s all dark and all you can see is the black landscape against the wondrous night sky.

Even though the world is dark, the meadow is alive the noises of the night. I hear the quiet trickle of a stream in the distance, the sounds of crickets chirping, and even an owl off in the distance.

After I reach the meadow, I head towards our rock and spot Rose walking along the path. I catch up to her and walk beside her for a moment, hesitant to break the enchantment of the night. I speak softy “isn’t this beautiful? The sky against the world” “Yes.” Rose replies in a whisper. “It’s my favorite. I just want to take it all in. Breathe it in forever” I know what she means. The peace is overwhelming. You want to feel it forever. Allow it to fill you and surround you.

We walk past our rock and further into the field until we find a nice spot to lie on the ground. We rest here and lay observing the night sky. It’s a few minutes before either of us speaks again.

“How do we miss this so often? A beautiful picture is perfectly painted across the sky every night everywhere on earth and most of us ignore it. Too busy with our life to notice the beauty right above our heads” I say

“I don’t know. We get too easily distracted, and then wonder why life is so depressing and boring. Imagine if we just spent a few minutes in wonder and awe every day” Rose replies

Just as she finishes saying this, I see our first shooting star. A flash of light across the sky. Gone in a second, but exciting nonetheless.

“Did you see that” I exclaim

“See what?”

“The shooting star. It was right over there”

“Wait really? I must of missed it”

We lay there for another two hours pointing out the shooting stars. Sometimes both of us see them, but often only one of us do and the other is jealous. We see about 100 of them before it starts to get brighter outside.

“It looks like the night is almost over” I say

“I wish I could lie here forever. It’s so peaceful, away from life and stress; instead just enjoying beauty and wonder.” Rose replies

“Same. There’s something so special about the night sky. It truly inspires awe”

Since the sun is beginning to rise, we make our way back to the rock. Our rock, the one we go to every other morning. The place where I first met Rose over a year ago. It was then that I first discovered the peace and tranquility of nature. It gives me a place to escape, to watch the sky as a marvelous piece of artwork is created anew every day.

It also gave me a friend. Someone who I rely on and trust. Rose is always there. When I feel hopeless, she gives me hope. When I feel sad, she gives me comfort. And when I feel joy, she increases it tenfold.

So as we watch the sunrise, I remember all the up’s and downs we’ve had together, and the world that we’ve come to deeply appreciate. I love it here, and I wish I never had to leave.