THE LITTLE CELESTIAL INFINITY

CHAPTER 1 Libby

Pentlex the newest device my dad invented. A certain technology attached to a person's hand that is used for holographic images, telecommunications,
internet, television, gaming, and people's daily technological needs. The device is operated via voice command or brain signals. It will be launched on August 25, 4015, today, this evening. They say growing up with an inventive father makes you creative yourself, a fact that made me the evidence itself. When I was five, I sit on our porch and tinker old machines, repairing them faster than a minute or so. My mother used to say i'll grow up exactly like my father. I loved my parents like a child would do, a complete fan of their love. But one cloudy morning, I was six, I went down to search for my mom like any other day. The porch, the garden, the kitchen, the living room, all of it were empty of her presence. I went back up and searched for her in her bedroom. And there I saw her laying in the bed. She looked peaceful, calm, but something was wrong. She was too peaceful, too calm. I tried to pull her from her tranquil sleep but she did not respond to my touches, my tickles, to my reaching voice. Soon I grew wary and cried out loud. I asked her if a witch cast a spell on her or if she ate something bad , but still, silence was all I had in return.
The room got darker and everything went still, like time chose to stop at that very moment. Then after an hour dad burst into the room, he stared at mom and me, stupefied by our faces. Then he panicked and shook mom. He yelled at her, calling her name but we both got the same response. Nothing. He hugged me tightly and apologized with warm tears streaming down his cheeks. I wept and wept, losing the idea why, but I felt this stirring pain in my chest pushing my heart out. All I know is that mom fell into a very deep sleep , and she's not waking up again.

Later that evening we all wore black clothes. Back at the bedroom, men crashed in and they got mom and placed her in a black body bag. I chased them and screamed at them but they ignored me. My dad ran after me and caught my little body. Stopping me from running after mom. I cried more and asked my dad,why and where are they taking mommy. But all dad said was, she'll be living in a better place and in a safer sky watching over us. My dad's words were trivial for a child like me back then. It sounded like another language newly discovered. Everything was dizzying, people are in the house, there were grieving strangers everywhere, even consoling relatives. Like all of it were just buzzing syntax errors and I was their little calculator trying to cope with all these huge changes.
At the funeral we mourned an empty casket and pretended my mother was in there. A more painful act we conducted. I haven't seen her face since she was retrieved by those men and it hurts me that they didnt give me a chance to say goodbye. 3 years later I was traumatized by everythimg that happened. My dad gave me a weighing scale shaped pendant and a letter addressed to me. It all came from my mom. But they were too late, they couldn't bring her back again, so is my old self. My heart already turned to stone, love turned to grief, and my grief turned to anger. The letter contained loving words I longed for years since the day she left me. It said that she was feeling weak a long time ago. But she chose to leave me in the dark for safety purposes. She also said that I was too young to understand such circumstances, when i'll be old and ready someone will tell me about everything. (surely it will not be her) Ironic, now I need to understand her sudden death and teach myself to be a young warrior. My heart screamed as they put anotger dagger on me. At the bottom of the letter she wrote something, a quote saying :

" Look at the stars,
they balance our life."

Everyday I taught myself to forget the past. I became angry at her, her sickness, the people around me, eveything. Except one, my dad. He's all I have now and all there's left. I gave the letter and the necklace back to my him, saying I do not need more grief. There are days when we exchange glances watching each other's red and puffy eyes. Silent coversations about each others weeping. But we never talked about it, my dad tried but I shrugged him off, i'm too sick of being left and how it felt. We never said anything about my mom again and I never asked about her living memories. I do not need blissful memories neither chest pain. Anything that reminds me of her.
Nothing, never. Not even the stars.

.....⭐.⭐.⭐.....
" Hello? Yes dad, i'll be there and I won't be late." Picking up while I choose what necklace to wear.
"Okay, Kent will give me a ride....Yes....bye dad... good luck... I Love You too" I turned off my pentlex. My dad called for the seventh time this afternoon. He constantly reminds me of his launch so that I won't miss it. Normally I really won't, but usually I do like the last launch of his invention the wave. The wave is a robot programmed to carry objects not beyond 60 kilograms. It is a 10- inch disk that emits electromagnetic waves above and under it's body to carry the object and to move around with ease. I already knew investors will come, so I didn't. So not my thing.

I applied gold dust under my lids and dab lip gloss on my lips. My very light blonde hair was curled loosely accessorized by a 7 gem tiaria. The pentlex was fittingly attached at the back of my hand and deep into my skin. My gown was greek styled, layered with creamy pink chiffon. As I wore my pumps, I received an incoming call.
Kent. " hello?" I say.
" Libby. uhmm about this evening... i'm sorry but~"
" You can't escort me. It's okay, surely I will understand." Sighing as I rolled my eyes, I already knew where he was and why he can't come, he even sounds drunk. Or maybe he has a girl on his lap right now. My anger is starting to rise up.
" Yes, but.... " long silence "can we have some time off.... from each other?" He told me like he practiced this a long time ago. And I was pissed, especially with myself,that I haven't notice it. Silly me.
" Well Kent can I be honest too? " A question I asked but do not need an answer.
" First I would want you to know that I loved you and I still do. But never, not even once you told me you love me too. I'm growing tired each day. It was always your pace, your choice and never did you thought of how I felt." My eyes felt blurry and I blinked it off, taking a hard breathe. I can't cry not now but I'm gonna break his nose once I see him again. " I think your right, I should also desire some space and time to let us both think things through and to see if we really are for each other." I sighed audibly " Goodbye, Kent "
" Libby, i'm sor~"
I cut him off, disabling my pentlex as I threw it across the wall. I sat near the vanity mirror staring at my reflection. People love to leave me do they? I thought while my consciousness wander deep down in my heart. I did not bother to pick the broken pentlex. I never worry about these kind of things, such materialized love. I worry more about my life, things my father cannot fix, buy or renew.
It was hard to believe I was once a sweet girl, even things change, so do I.
But I fell and I broke, now I mend myself to be tougher,stronger and smarter.
To taunt my life's judgement.