For I am a moon

For I am a moon,

once belonging to a star, now cast away into the void of every nothing there ever was and ever has been. As my descent began over the first hundred years, I thought I wasn't alone. Maybe another star far far away had pulled me in. Maybe I couldn't feel its warmth because it was cold and far away. But I wasn't orbiting, I was drifting.

After the first thousand years, I finally saw something amidst the void. A spec. A little pinprick of light. I stared at it for years. Admiring the thought of circling it for eternity. I being its and it being mine forever and ever. But I drifted by.

After the first million, I started seeing more and more. Different planets orbiting stars of their own. But they were too far away and I was too small. I knew if I got close I would be burned by the big stars floating by. I envied the planets. How could they get stars? Why did they get warmth and company? Why was I left to be adrift for all of eternity, never warm or whole?

After the two-millionth year, I hated them. I hated how they were a constant reminder of how lonely and cold I was. I hated them for being seen. I hated them because they were everything and I was nothing. The nothing amidst nothing.

The last of the stars were seen after the fiftieth-millionth year. Now alone in the dark once again like before. But it wasn't the same as the first. The cold didn't sting my surface, now being numb. I was still hurt, the stinging now located inside, being more than I ever thought it could be. Now, I wished the other planets were here. The jealousy didn't sting as much as this. I looked out into the void, now knowing I was utterly alone.

The billionth year was different.

Drifting along- now completely numb inside and out. I felt something, a change in direction. The sudden jerk snapped me out of my daze. I could feel a pull from deep inside, the slightest thing. It was the first thing I felt in a very long time. As I drifted -was pulled- along I looked. I looked for a giant fiery orb lighting up the darkness. Nothing.

When I saw it, it wasn't big and grand but it felt like it. It didn't glow but it sparkled to me. It wasn't warm but I could feel a flame flicker to life in my chest. It was more beautiful than the brightest and biggest star.

It was a moon. Like me. Drifting, cold, and alone in an empty void.

I got closer, warmth only growing in my chest.

It was crying. I wondered if it was even real. If this would just disappear into the void like everything else.

Silence when it saw me. Then is spoke.

"Your alone, like me. Oh stay, please stay! I'm so scared! I'm so alone! won't you stay with me?" It pleaded with me. And I've never wanted anything more.

"Of course. For I am a moon without a star. But my dearest, you are the most dazzling thing I've seen."

And so it went.

Time faded by as each rotation of each other grew.

For the moons may not have been stars but the company was warm enough.