Soul Mate Anthologies

Broken Glass

They say that love comes in all forms. That is indeed true. Musa Bloom certainly understood it. She could see it in a mama Robin as she teaches her young ones to fly, she spots it between Mrs. Audrey, her senile neighbour and her cat.

Musa knew her love for music is eternal. She knew her passion lied in her dreams.

So she sings. She shares her love with the world. Some do the same thing for the fame and money. She's comes under the group who just do it because they love it.

Stella Bloom on the other hand was a different story altogether. She didn't have time for love nor dreams. A woman bearing the weight of her family's expectations.

How she envied young Musa, her darling sister. Musa, brilliant bright soul that she is, couldn't bear the sight of Stella.

How could she, with Stella judging her every move and choice, reprimanding her every time. Nothing she does is ever right for her elder sister, the so called perfect one.

This isn't a tale but a reflection. You see while Musa was on her Europe tour, Stella was stuck handling PR and her own business. The stress was too much and she collapsed. No one was surprised it happened, they were all expecting it to happen sooner or later.

No one except Musa that is. And why wouldn't she? She didn't know that her sister had been the one to make the contracts and get her her manager, Mr. Rufus. She didn't know Stella worked hard at her business and made her company Musa's international sponsor.

How could she? She was too young to understand. She was living in the moment. She was being judged and critiqued by Stella during it all.

Stella wanted her to be the best to survive. It was only after that incident did Musa learn of it all. Without someone handling PR, her tour and concerts would be a havoc.

On being asked for her assisting PR, Musa learnt of how much her sister had contributed to her success.

But she never did care for that. No. But Stella did. Stella, in her own way loved her. Their age difference was often a hindrance, Musa reflected how she grew under Stella's care and not her parents.

Growing up, she forgot how close they once were. Maybe Stella was indeed busy, she must have been to have succumbed to anaemia and to have fallen into a coma. She must have meant it when she apologized for not being able to come to her concerts.

God, how Musa wished she could rewind and give her sister a hug, tell her that she understood now, that she isn't her baby sister anymore but a grown up who could handle some responsibilities.

Staying beside her sister as she healed, Musa realized that she too loved her sister. In her own way. It was different from the ones mentioned earlier.

But it was love. Raw and unconditional.

It reminded her of something her sister would often tell her when she used to have nightmares as a child:

If there ever comes a day where we can't be together keep me in your heart where I'll stay forever.

"Forever Musa. Remember that."

Forever indeed. Musa never let go of those words from her mind but had left Stella behind.

Now she still has time. She won't do that again. She looked at her sister's table, a photograph of the two of them, their pinkies strung together with a pink thread.

She remembers that day vividly. The first string of many. The only one visible to the world albeit for a span of five minutes.

Enough for Stella to grin and take a picture. Enough for her to keep it at her bedside on the table for ages.

Maybe they both could fix this. Someday they will look back at this moment at laugh at their folly.

For even broken glass can be beautiful. Frozen fragments on a picture frame, she'll make amends.

The cracks will show how far they have come together.