In The Night Sky

| Part 2

The snow was soft and thick underneath Ella's feet as she found her way home. She walked on, but as she did, she tripped over something hard that was hidden in the snow. She fell flat on her back, and then, she took the moment to look up at the beautiful night sky.

As she looked at the twinkling constellations, the moon that was now full and the comets that shot across the sky, that gave the impression of falling stars, she began to move her arms and legs in the snow she laid on.

Her blonde braid was now untidy and loose strands of her silky hair framed her face as she got up to view the snow angel she had made in the blanket of snow that covered the lands. In summer, Ella and her father would lay on the fresh green grass and look at the clouds. Now that winter had arrived, they stopped that because it became dangerously cold at times, here in Lochrich, (even though winter was her favourite season.)

Yet, just a few moments ago, as she looked at the star-filled sky, she felt happy. Why, she wondered, couldn't we just capture our most loved memories, and when we look up, be able to see them in the sky?

Suddenly, she was brought back from her thoughts as a hand placed itself on her shoulder. She turned to find her father, relief flooding his face as he looked at her.

"Father, what are you doing out here?" asked Ella.

"I came looking for you, Ella. Why did you take so long? You know you're not supposed to be roming the woods in winter." said her father.

"But Father, I wasn't roming! I fell and then- " started the girl, but her father cut her off.

"Ella, please don't give me excuses. Now, let's just go home. "

"As you wish, Father."

Later that night, Ella ate her supper with her father in the warmth of their home. Ella's mother had left when she was very young.

Now, Ella longed for a mother. Someone she could share her thoughts with, or just someone who she knew would be there for her and who she trusted. Although she loved her father very much, she could never really talk to him about everything, for he was a distant man.

If anything, besides a mother, she needed a friend. But, alas, Ella did not have one. For when Ella was born, her mother had left her. Her mother was a very kind woman, but when word got around that she had left after giving birth, the people of the village believed that Ella must have been a great 'disappoint' for such a kind woman to leave her. So, when the time came for the group of children of her age to begin school, they were told to stay away from her. Ella always felt sad and hurt.

And this was the reason that she took so much joy in remembering and cherishing the little happy moments that came her way, for these moments are what kept her strong.

Her only desire now was to be able to capture them. Not relive them, but capture them, even if it were by means of an object that simply reminded her of happiness.

After a quiet supper of roasted potatoes and some chicken, Ella retired to her room. The moon lit up her room, so she did not feel the need to light a candle. She sat down on her bed and burried her face in her hands.

She sat there for barely a few minutes, yet it felt like hours had dragged by.

When she looked up again, she found an old woman dressed in a blue dress standing in front of her. The woman looked as if she were an aristocrat. Ella was shocked, and a little startled, to see her standing there.

"Eleanor?" asked the woman.

"Um, actually, no. I'm Ella Rosewell."

"Oh, yes! You're definitely the one we are looking for." said the woman rather cheerfully.