Storms would scare Saiph as a young girl. Her parents would hear her cries at the other end of the hallway. When they listened to their daughter, one of them would shuffle down the corridor to bring her to their bed. Then, Saiph would finally fall asleep in their safe arms. One night, this wasn't the case.
She was eight years old and too scared to get out of bed. Saiph cried and cried and cried as she pleaded with her tears for her parents to come to save her. Hope filled her heart when the door to her room creaked open, accompanied by another snap of lightning. Her ten-year-old brother, Alcor, stood at the door.
BOOM!
Another strike of thunder shook through the sky. Alcor moved to Saiph's bed more urgently, but he got his little sister out of bed instead of getting under the secure sheets with her. Saiph dragged her arm away and shook her head. The sheets were the only thing protecting her from the storm.
"Don't worry, Saiph. I only want to show you the sky," Alcor says.
He puts his hand out and waits for her to accept it. Saiph looks up at him and then down to his hand. Her heart beats with terror at the thought of going to the window. But the feeling of trust for her brother wraps around her like the safe and warm bed sheets. Finally, Saiph takes his hand and slips out of bed.
Alcor smiled and got her to sit on his lap by the window. All Saiph could see was a pitch black sky until the lightning spread its light to reveal the gloomy clouds. It made her jump and she covered her terrified look on Alcor's shoulder.
"Look at the sky for me," he tells his sister. Saiph shook her head. "You're in my arms. You're okay; the storm can't get you. I promise."
Saiph held onto her brother tightly and turned her head slowly to look at the dark and gloomy weather. Lightning and thunder continued to pattern the sky.
"Do you know where our stars are?" He asks.
Their parents, being the astrologers they are, named their children after stars from the sky. Alcor can be found in the constellation of Ursa Major and Saiph in the constellation of Orion. Every night before Saiph goes to bed, she says goodnight to her and her brother's star. That night, she couldn't do that.
"They're hiding behind the clouds," Saiph answered.
"They are. Our stars will always be in the sky as long as we live. But we will not always be able to see them. They will not always be here for you and me. But that's okay, you know why?"
"No, why?"
"Because soon, the clouds will go, and when night falls, they will shine for us again. Not always, but no matter what, Saiph and Alcor will always shine for us. Our stars will always come back."
The words eased Saiph as she sunk lower into Alcor's comforting arms. He always watches over his little sister. Like his star, he will forever be by her side, no matter what.
BOOM!
More lighting and thunder struck the sky, but it didn't scare Saiph this time. Alcor let her stay up for a few minutes as they watched the rain fall and lightning paint the sky. Soon, she fell asleep in his arms and Alcor tucked her back into bed. Before he left Saiph's room, he kissed her tiny forehead.
Saiph never woke up from a storm again.
YOU ARE READING
If Only You Were Here
Teen Fiction"To Ansel, it was an insightful point on the idea of a home. To Saiph, it was a hit to her heart. A reminder that this will never really be her home, not without Alcor." Saiph and Alcor have been inseparable since they were young, so it hurt her ter...
