A Silent Moon

Chapter 1- Moon

My name is Chase. Chase Luna. For the majority of my time in education; from elementary all up until high school, I was alone. A lone wolf so to say. But not out of my own admission. I was once more extroverted. Friendly even. But that all changed when I was just twelve years old.

Me and my family were pretty well off compared to some families back then, we had a nice house, easily indulged in luxuries and still had loads of money to spare for charities. Though our home was always modest. It was the house my father lived in when he was young after all; before he landed a high paying job.

It was during these times that I remember so lucidly, how on Christmas nights when snow blanketed the town and my windows laced with frost, my extended family would come together and have a large gathering.

I had some of them to thank for fuelling my obsession with animals actually, since three of my aunts and two uncles worked with animals on a daily basis. One aunt was a veterinarian, one had her own dog training business and the last worked at a zoo. My two uncles majored in two different animal-related sciences; entomology, which was the study of bugs and insects. The other uncle majored in zoology.

They were the ones who taught me about many animals I've never seen before. I was one of those kids that were largely interested in bugs, birds and all kinds of animals. No matter how gross or ugly people thought of them, I always sought to find the beauty— or well, the cool side to every animal.

To prove others wrong I even had my entomologist uncle teach me some cool facts about bugs to tell my friends.

But the people I was always excited to meet the most were my cousins. I'd meet up with my cousins; both younger and older than I was. I was always elated to meet them all, and Ioved the games we used to play with each other. Some were even invented by two of my older cousins.

I still remember one of the games they invented we used to play while our parents were busy catching up with each other. It was called 'Manifestations.' I had no idea what the word meant back then, but I thought it was cool.

The game was meant to be played alongside some role-playing. Both sides selected a character to be, and we'd have these little cards one of my uncles made for the game that would dictate how the battles were fought. I felt like a superhero.

It was interesting to me at the time since I've always admired superheroes. I loved their stupid suits, how cool it was to see them use their superpowers. Whenever my grandparents came around they would always gift me with something related to a certain superhero. I guess you could say I was practically obsessed with them.

During times when after I watched any TV show related to a superhero I would run around and act as if I were one.

I even had this corny little name one of my older male cousins, Wally, gave me; Crescent. I knew that it was in direct relation to my last name, and was very unoriginal, but I loved it. From that day forward, I would always sneak out of bed at night when I knew my mom and dad were asleep. And took a look at the moon. I guess I felt a connection to it.

There was just something uniquely beautiful about it. How each night it was different. And it took on different hues depending on where you were at the time.

But I loved it when it was a full moon, when it was large and always seemed to follow me around. Shining down its shimmering silver light upon me.

I was thankful for my older cousin; for many things. And for opening my eyes to a whole new world of possibilities for me.

When I was ten, and my cousin Wally was fifteen, he invited me over to play some video games with him and his friend; Matt. Wally's house wasn't far off from mine so my mother drove me there, knowing that I was safe at his house.