What could go wrong when taking a road trip, alone, across the USA after a break up? Well, I can answer that for you.
Your car breaks down in the middle of nowhere. That's what could happen. The universe is really out to get me, these days.
That is...
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May 24, 2022
The stars. There are so many just twinkling in the sky, watching over us. I wonder if stars have an impact on people, our relationships, or our destiny.
I see the appeal to them. The interest. Throughout all of human history the moon and stars have had many different stories and importance in different civilizations.
The one thing I hated about growing up in NYC was that you could never see the stars in the night sky. All you got was a black abyss, nothing to see. A sea of blackness.
Out here in the country though, you can see the rivers of stars. The shapes they create and the stories that they hold.
"What are you doing," interrupts my thoughts, I glance at James before looking back up into the night sky.
"Star gazing. I'll be inside in a minute." Instead of walking away James lays down beside me in the grass, lacing our fingers together in between us.
"What are you doing?" I look over at him.
"Looking at the stars."
I smile, turning back toward the night sky. "Do you know any stories about them?"
"A few," he sighs.
"Could you tell me one? I want to know more about them. They are so pretty," I sigh. "When they twinkle they remind me of your eyes. That sparkle you get sometimes," I smile, picturing the thing I love so much.
"They're not as pretty as you," he brings our interlocked hands up to his mouth, kissing my knuckles, before setting them back down. I blush, thankful he can't see it in the dark.
"Alright, I have one. It was my mom's favorite. My grandma would tell it to me every night growing up," he smiles, reminiscing.
I make myself more comfy, if it's even possible on the ground, preparing to listen to the story. "Alright, I'm ready." James laughs before beginning the story.
"It's called 'The Bridge of Magpies'. In Chinese culture they believe that the star Vega," he points to a star, "and Altair," he points to another, "were lovers. Vega was a weaving maid, named Zhi Nu, who fell in love with Altair, a cow herder named Niu Lang. They were deeply in love, but their parents forbade it and separated them using a river. When they died, they became stars, separated by the Milky Way Galaxy. Altair is to the west and Vega is to the East.
"Once a year, on July 7, magpies form a bridge across the Celestial river and allow them to cross and meet each other for the night. They meet in the middle, at a constellation called Cygnus," he points to a group of stars, "once the night is over they must return to their sides of the sky and wait for another 365 days to be reunited."
I sigh, "that's depressing. Why can't they be together?"
"Different people tell different versions," he shrugs. "In all of them they are forbidden to be together. United for only one night."
"I don't like that story," I complain. James turns his head to smile at me.
"On the bright side, pun intended," I shake my head at him, "they are so in love that they accept this for the rest of eternity. So in love that they will wait to be reunited for only 1 night because nothing is better to them than even the shortest amount of time together."
I lean in to kiss him, understanding how they feel, "Star-crossed lovers. One of the worst book tropes to exist." I would go to the ends of the earth and beyond if it meant that I got to spend even one second with James. Thank god my car broke down and I ended up here.
"Do you think that stars or the moon have an impact on where we end up and who we fall in love with," I ask, wanting to know what he thinks.
"Ummm I don't know. I think a lot of things go into play for stuff like that. Signs are everywhere unless you call them coincidences. But is anything ever really a coincidence? Guess we'll never know," he pauses, his eyes roaming my face. "You know what I do know?"
"What," I ask, knowing I will love whatever the answer is.
"That whatever or whoever is responsible for us meeting, I owe them everything." I smile. Yup, I knew that I would love it. I kiss him again. I don't think kissing has even been this enjoyable.
"You know what else I know," James asks, still kissing me.
There's more?! I raise my eyebrows, "what?"
"That Vega is the 5th brightest star visible from Earth." I laugh against his lips. Of course he would say something like that.
"Okay," I kiss him one last time before standing up, "let's go to bed." I wait for him to get up, then take his hand in mine again and lead him to the bedroom.
