A Fallen Star: The Punch Of A Woman

34. About Petra (extra)

Petra's life in her small town was a testament to the joys of simplicity. Nestled in a quiet valley surrounded by rolling hills and dense forests, the town was the kind of place where everyone knew each other's names and nothing much ever changed. Petra's family was well-loved by the townsfolk. They owned a small general store right in the heart of town, a place that had been passed down through generations. It was the kind of store where you could find anything you needed, from fresh produce to handmade trinkets, and where people often stopped by just to chat.

Growing up, Petra was always full of energy. She was the kind of kid who preferred climbing trees and exploring the woods over sitting still in a classroom. Her parents, both kind-hearted and patient, encouraged her adventurous spirit. They often took her on nature hikes, teaching her about the plants and animals that called the valley home. Petra's father, a man with a deep love for geology, would spend hours showing her different types of rocks and explaining how they were formed.

"Look at this one, Petra," he'd say, holding up a jagged piece of granite. "You see the tiny crystals inside? That's quartz. It formed over millions of years, deep underground."

Petra would listen with wide eyes, fascinated by the stories her father told. She developed a love for rocks and minerals, often bringing home little treasures she found during her explorations. Her room was filled with these rocks, each one labeled and displayed with care. She dreamed of becoming a geologist someday, just like her father.

Her life was happy, peaceful, and full of love. She was well-liked in school, had a close-knit group of friends, and enjoyed spending time with her family. There was nothing particularly extraordinary about her life, but Petra wouldn't have had it any other way.

One day, when Petra was around twelve years old, something strange happened—though not in a bad way, more in a confusing, slightly funny sort of way. It was a typical Saturday afternoon, and Petra was out in the backyard, trying to build a small rock garden. She had been inspired by one of her father's books on landscaping and had decided that she wanted her own little oasis right behind the house. She had gathered a variety of rocks from her collection, carefully arranging them in a circle around a small patch of soil where she planned to plant some flowers.

As she worked, she found herself getting frustrated. One particularly large rock wouldn't stay in place. Every time she tried to set it down, it would roll out of the circle. After the third or fourth time, Petra sat back on her heels, glaring at the stubborn rock.

"Oh, come on!" she huffed, more to herself than to the rock. "You're supposed to stay right there!"

Without really thinking about it, she reached out and placed both hands on the rock, trying to will it to stay put. As she did, she felt a strange tingling sensation in her fingertips, something she had never experienced before. Confused, she looked down at her hands, only to see that the rock was beginning to vibrate slightly under her touch.

"What the—?" Petra started, but before she could finish, the rock suddenly shot up into the air, hovering a few feet above the ground.

Petra yelped and stumbled back, falling onto her backside. She stared up at the floating rock, her mouth hanging open in disbelief. The rock remained suspended for a few seconds before gently lowering itself back down into the circle, exactly where she had wanted it to go.

For a long moment, Petra just sat there, her mind racing to make sense of what had just happened. Then, despite herself, she started to laugh. It was a breathless, slightly hysterical laugh, the kind that comes when you've just witnessed something so absurd that your brain can't quite process it.

"Okay," she said aloud, still giggling. "That was... weird."

Over the next few days, Petra experimented with her newfound ability in secret, unsure of how to explain it to her parents or friends. She discovered that she could make rocks move just by thinking about it, though it took some concentration. She could lift them, make them roll or stack themselves, and even send them flying through the air if she really focused. It was a strange power, but it didn't feel dangerous—more like an extension of herself, something she could control with practice.