Constellations Of The Heart

5.

Dim light spilled from the windows of the cozy home shared by its youthful inhabitants. One by one, the signs retreated to their rooms.

In the kitchen, two boys remained. Aries who scrubbed a plate with fervor, and Sagittarius rinsed off the last of the utensils. Their energy filled the space, a pleasant contrast to the silence that enveloped the rest of the house.

“Do you ever think about what’s beyond all this?” Sagittarius asked, glancing over at Aries. He wiped his hands on a towel, leaning against the countertop.

“Beyond all this? You mean, like, what’s beyond the dishes?” Aries chuckled, tossing a soapy rag at Sagittarius playfully. “I’m just trying to survive the night without smashing a plate.”

“No, you know what I mean,” Sagittarius said, his voice turning serious. “I mean all the wild adventures we could have! The places we could see. This town is nice, but sometimes it feels like we’re in a bubble.”

Aries sighed, considering his friend’s words. He loved home—but he had to admit that Sagittarius had a point. “I get that,” he said, the image of far-off lands conjuring in his mind, sparkling like the late-night stars shining outside. “But I guess there’s something about home that keeps me grounded. I wouldn’t want to leave all of you behind.”

“Grounded is one way to put it,” Sagittarius replied with a teasing grin. “More like stuck. Don’t you want to experience something thrilling? Maybe go bungee jumping off a mountain, or sail across open seas?”

Aries paused, contemplating the possibilities. He couldn't deny the wanderlust pulling at his heartstrings. “Sure, that sounds incredible, but what if we fell? What if something went wrong?”

“Aries,” Sagittarius replied, his voice gentle yet firm. “You can’t live your life in fear. Sometimes, you just have to leap.” He began stacking the clean dishes, the small clinks and clatters echoing through the kitchen as their voices faded in the background.

Aries threw in a few more forks, and a silence settled momentarily between them. He watched the suds dance in the sink, lost in thought. “What if we just stayed here forever?” he said after a pause, “Never going anywhere beyond the borders of home, just living these mundane lives?”

“You’re being too dramatic! We’ve got time,” Sagittarius replied with a laugh, but there was a flicker of seriousness beneath his playful demeanor. “But thinking about it, the prospect of staying puts limits on us. Don’t you sometimes feel like there’s more to life than this?”

“Maybe,” Aries admitted slowly. “But I like knowing what I have every day. I like the routine. It makes me feel… secure. Lightning-fast adventures sound fun, but they can be risky.”

“And you know what they say about being stuck in a rut,” Sagittarius countered, sweeping up the last of the dishes. “You have to shake things up every now and then!”

“Okay, Mr. Wise Guy, what do you suggest?” Aries quirked an eyebrow, folding his arms and leaning against the counter.

Sagittarius straightened up, his eyes gleaming. “How about we plan a trip? Just a weekend getaway? We can head to the lake for some stargazing. What do you think?”

Aries felt a thrill shoot through him, a mix of excitement and trepidation. “A weekend trip? Just us?” He considered the thought, tempted by the nurturing pull of adventure. “What if we don’t know what we’re doing?”

“Then we figure it out together. That’s what I’m saying! We’ve got each other, and I believe we can handle whatever zigzags life throws our way!” The energy radiating from Sagittarius was contagious, sparking a sliver of courage within Aries.