Stars Can't Shine Without Darkness

And Suddenly

There's something I've always found mesmerizing about the space... just the thought of something, anything, existing outside of our atmosphere is just fascinating. When I was younger, I'd always talk about one day becoming an astronaut and going to space, you know, typical stuff you'd expect a child of about six or seven years of age to say - I never thought that dream would stick with me and eventually become my career option.

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I'm Adrian, by the way. Nineteen. Studying biological science in my first year of university at Cambridge. I'm British, and all my life, I've lived in London until this present moment. I live in a small apartment near my university campus and I'm enjoying it a lot. I have light brown hair and grey eyes. I wear glasses, which is a down side, because NASA expects 20/20 vision. I suppose I could get contact lenses though. I look about fifteen, despite being almost an adult. I'm one hundred and eighty six centimetres, so I'm pretty tall which is fun because most of my friends are shorter than me. That pretty much sums me up, to be honest. I'm ordinary, unless you count my intelligence, which is slightly above average (okay, maybe a lot above average).

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After classes on Monday, I leave all the instructions for my assignments on the desk by my bed and throw on a coat - usually, on a Monday, I'll complete my assignments to an impeccable standard (I absolutely cannot stand to have a less-than-impeccable-standard assignment), eat and then head straight to bed, but today is special. There's meant to be a meteor shower starting at exactly eight thirty seven this evening and I absolutely cannot miss it - as a biological science student and future astronaut (preferably for NASA), it spikes my greatest interests.

Despite my wanting, I decide not to take a telescope - it'll probably take too long to set up and I'd rather see the whole sky, not just a portion of it, zoomed in and focused on detail.

I hike up a hill to a more secluded part of the park near my university - it's not like anyone will be here, they're too concentrated on their assignments or playing video games or even drinking - and take a seat on the slightly cold ground. There's a slight layer of dew and I feel a breeze of wind blow through my hair, against my back, causing me to shiver slightly.

I stare up at the sky, my eyes wide, mouth agape as the first few streaks of light trail through the sky. It surely is a beautiful sight to see, I can't understand why anyone would want to miss something like this.

Without even thinking about the coldness of the grassy hill I'm sitting on, I lay down and watch the meteor shower. Up here, alone, with just the vast blackness and the increasing number of trails of light, I feel at peace, and at one, with the universe. No distractions.

Just as the meteor shower is reaching its peak, I notice something - it's a tiny thing, something you wouldn't be able to pick up on if your attention wasn't already focused at that spot. Is that... a spaceship? An unidentified flying object? Shall I call the FBI?

As if my body moves on its own, I practically jump to my feet and run down the hill, towards the small lake a few hundred meters away. I pause at the edge of the water and look up. That's no meteor, but it's heading straight towards me.

I'm like a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming lorry. I can't move and just stare, wide eyed, feeling my impending doom coming.

It's sudden and surprisingly, I'm not killed or knocked out. The object barrels into me and I hit the floor, feeling a jolt go up my spine as I let out a small 'oof!' but nothing more.

When I finally feel the weight roll off me, I open my eyes and look to my right. It's a boy, around my age, staring at me with wide, bright blue eyes and hair so bleached, it's white. He's pale but looks perfectly healthy, just slightly surprised and in a state of shock and disbelief. I stand up and offer him my hand. He takes it, shyly and I help him up.

"I'm alive..." he mumbles in wonder, looking at his hands, then at me, then back at his hands, the same expression on his face. "I'm alive!" he repeats, louder and more joyfully.

I nod, "That is correct. Why were you falling from the sky in the first place? Am I being pranked?" I ask, recovering from the initial confusion.

"No! Of course not!" the shorter male in front of me protests. "I'm totally real!"

"Why were you shooting from the sky then?" I ask again.

He giggles, almost like it's the most obvious thing in the entire universe, "I'm a star, silly!"

At this point, I'm convinced I'm going crazy. A star? Stars aren't humans! They're luminous fixed points in the night sky, which are large, remote sources of light as a result of their heat! They can't talk or walk or stand!

"I'm afraid I don't believe you."

His face falls, "Wha - that's... that's crazy! I'm perfectly real! Touch my face as proof! Go on!" he says indignantly.

I cautiously reach out and brush my fingers against his cheek... he feels real enough, and did I mention that his skin is incredibly soft? I pull my hand away and look at it. There's glitter on it.

"What is this?" I ask, showing him my fingers.

"Ah! It's stardust! Sorry, it just rubs off of me!" he said. "So, what's your name?"

Deciding I have nothing to lose by telling him, I do so, "Adrian. What about you?"

"Kai!"

I ponder for a moment, "I apologise, but I have never heard of you." I say.

The star - no, Kai - shrugs, "I wouldn't expect you to. I'm not a well known star like Sun or North."

"Wait, you know them?" I ask.

"Well duh. Everyone knows Sun and North. I'm pretty good friends with Sun! She's really nice, always happy."

I look up at the sky, disappointed to see that the meteor shower is over. No point hanging around then.

"I should go." I say, turning away, only stopping when Kai grabs my hand.

He looks so innocent and pleading when he speaks, "Please don't leave me here alone... I don't know anything, this is all very foreign and... please take me with you..." he requests, eyes filled with tears.

I can't resist and for some reason, have a feeling that this could either be the best or worst decision in my entire life, "Come along then."

I lead him to my apartment and let him in. Then, I walk into the kitchen and make myself some chamomile tea to relax a little before going to bed at ten, for a sufficient amount of sleep (I wake up at half seven in the morning). Kai follows me.

"Would you like some?" I offer.

He takes a look at the honey coloured liquid and nods, "Thanks."

I shrug and make another mug. He takes it as soon as I finish stirring and takes a sip, "Wow! This is great!" he yells.

I nod, "It's supposed to help you relax too. An ideal drink for before bed."

"Bed?" he asks, confused.

"Yes. Humans replenish their energy by going to sleep in the night." I explain, and Kai nods in response.

"Interesting." he says.

We fall into a comfortable silence, the only sound tearing through the veil of tranquility being Kai and I either cooling or sipping our tea.

"How old are you?" Kai asks suddenly, looking at me.

"Nineteen." I answer, taking another sip of tea. "You?"

Kai is silent for a few moments, "Four and a half billion."

The tea sputters out of my mouth and I start to cough, only managing to choke out a strained, "Four and a half billion?!"

Kai nods, "Stars have been in existence since the beginning of time. Unlike humans."

I agree. I know that but to actually have a first hand experience with the beginning of the universe is... incredible.

My life is taking a whole new turn - maybe not in the way a person would expect, but definitely in a way.