intertwined

PART I

they say that hope can be found even in the absence of light.

in ancient times, the sun and moon were married, both entranced by the opposition of their partner. while fire ruled the sunny day, obscurity ruled the night, and very rarely would you ever see one with the other. however, as time stretched on, the moon grew to long for the companionship of its bride. it became drawn to the warmth of the day, the longing ache in its heart difficult to ignore. and thus, they came together, forming a solar eclipse.

despite the world going dark the moment they met, it was only for a moment. after all, once the moon returned to the sea, light would stay for a very long time.

history was marked the moment a baby was born in the borderlands. it should've been impossible, for the ticking hands of time knew no direction and no sequence. and yet, in a world filled with the ugly stench of death, one that went dark the moment the moon overcast the sun, life was formed regardless.

hope was found.

-

"did that really happen?"

a smile curled the woman's lips at your question, gently lowering the brush from your hair and placing it down on the bedside table. she leaned forward, pulling back the strands before resting her manicured fingers on your shoulders, "of course it did. you see the sun and the moon every day, don't you? and what also still exists?"

"solar eclipses." you grinned, feeling proud when she gently tapped your nose in acknowledgment.

"exactly."

you shifted in your chair, playing with the ends of your fingers as words danced on the tip of your tongue, "mira. when can i go outside? i want to see the shooting stars."

"my dear (name)," she cooed, stroking her fingers down your cheeks in a loving gesture, "don't you know the world is a dangerous place? you're safe right here. just where you are."

a pout formed on your lips, but you didn't protest as mira leaned forward and captured you within a hug. your fingers curled around the sleeves of her dress, the soft tune entering your ears lulling you to sleep. you found yourself mumbling the words back, before laying limp in her arms.

when night fell, your footsteps were light against the floorboards, each careful placement of your limbs bringing you closer and closer to the window at the far end of the hall. you paused when you reached it, listening attentively for any signs of disturbance in the bedroom a couple doors down. when mira didn't wake up to scold you, you breathed a sigh of relief, hoisting yourself up onto the ledge.

an excited sigh left your lips the moment you took in the sight, resting your arms on the ledge with your head along with it. there, far across the horizon, were hundreds of lights bursting in the sky, every shape and color pulling you in like a moth to a flame.  they were like strokes of paint being thrown across a black canvas, filling you with that aching longing you couldn't explain.

"when the moon left the sky to meet the sun, it left behind stars as a sign of normalcy. constellations, shooting stars, even a trail of milky ways. these stars? they are just for you. you don't have to make a wish or a promise. you can just enjoy them as they are. an innocent phenomenon."

you didn't know who the voice belonged to. it wasn't mira's, for she never told you the history behind the lights in the sky, not to mention her tone of voice was much more lighthearted than the one echoing in your mind. that voice was soft. soothing. not a trace of your caretaker's teasing lilt.

you released another soft sigh, closing your eyes to listen to the faint explosions in the sky and the soft murmur in your ears.

-