The Human Condition - Space Edition

Twice In A Blue Moon

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Written in the perspective of a star surrounding Neptune, this story details the peculiar orbit of 2 moons which scientists call 'a dance of avoidance'. I was inspired by a song called 'Neptune' by Sleeping At Last, which is directly referenced later. Hope you enjoy (and, if you do, go listen to the song! It's so beautiful!), and I warn: there is some serious gay angst. <3

Sometimes, you have to wonder whether it's real.

Love.

If you observe it from the outside, it can look like the vastest jumble of contradictions and lies, but also truth and an odd image of divinity, which you sort of have to admire.

With some people, it's like love chooses them and it's their duty to do others a service by offering their whole heart. Other people only seek it and then ironically have nothing to do but mull over why they have this eternal emptiness inside them.

I'm an observer.

Well, you could say I participate in the whole 'love' thing. I've heard some people say that they love me because I'm sparkly and I can bring a luminescent perspective to the nightly shadows of space.

But they haven't even met me. I think they love the idea of me. They love that I can be a part of something, like constellations, and maybe it's just that they want to be a part of something too. A wider purpose.

Do you think love gives purpose? I think so. I think love is the reason purpose exists.

I guess the reason I am telling you all this is because I wanted to let you in on a little secret. A hidden gem of our galaxy. And you could say that this story is one of love, but you know how I said earlier that some people only seek love and others only give it? What if you were only ever given the means to love in half, not whole? That would change it all then, wouldn't it?

You can see it, you know, where that big ice giant, Neptune, holds dozens of moons.

There.

Amidst all the burning and the flying and the crashing and the pummelling, there they are. At the edge of your galaxy, rocks fated by invisible rings.

The story is about just two of those moons - soul and orbit bound. Though, you shouldn't get confused.

They were anything but soulmates.

You might say the red string of fate that intertwined the two had frayed into an icy blue, the orange sparks now spitting tears; a wet tapestry of unbridled despair painted along Neptune's sides. But, if you really looked, you wouldn't see it. It's not like the Sun, right in your face, demanding your gaze or the eyes of every shadow. Moons? They only reflect that loving light. An attempt at imitating grace.

So, don't worry if you can't see them from where you are; they are practically the smallest ones. You could probably compare them to pebbles. Skipped stones.

The first of the skipped is Naiad, and she's an interesting one. Her name literally means 'running water' and she does exactly that. Her orbit is half an hour faster than Thalassa's, who, by the way, is the second of the skipped moonstones. And her name is that of the primordial deity of the sea. Can you imagine trying to match someone who created the sea? All of it? You can't, really.

Wait, I want to explain exactly how I see it all from up here.

Try to picture it like art.

As they dive under, just for that moment of clarity, that moment of peaceful silence under the crashing torrents above, they hold still. Breathe. But the wind, strong at their back, drives them forwards - a force of deadly muscle. So, they carry on and convince themselves they're gliding along the water.