Short Stories

Stars

It felt free. The grass underneath my back and the moonlight on my face. It made me feel as if I was floating even though I was still grounded. This is what it must feel like to be a bird, the freedom of seeing your kingdom underneath you and belonging to the sky. I've always wanted to fly, I could fly away from my life and do whatever I wanted.

"Hello, what is your name?" A strange voice asked, it belonged to an older woman, the type that have loads of cats in their back garden. I felt guilty for trying to steal from her, I only wanted enough food for a day.

"I-I don't like my name," I said looking down at the ground, I never have, it sounds weird and no one ever likes it.

"That's ok, do you have a nickname?"

"I call myself Shadow."

"Really? Well, from now on your name is Shadow. Now where are your parents?"

"I have no parents, I live on the streets."

"Come with me Shadow, I own an orphanage near here, there are other kids your age who also love meeting new people and making friends," she took my hand and tried pulling me towards the river but I had one question.

"Why Shadow? Why wouldn't you prefer a more normal name?"

"I 'm calling you Shadow because your shadow is always there, it is with you even when you feel utterly alone." I smiled, I never thought of shadows like that, like a friend, "Now, come with me."

I nodded and took off with the lady by my side.

Now that I think back to that moment I know that I should've stayed home, living off stolen coins but I was only six at the time and a six-year-old living alone on the street goes with the first nice person that offers them a home.

The woman was called the Madame, she was nice to me at first. She took me to the school. She showed me around the town. She gained my trust and when I was under her wing she turned it against me. And she did it to all the other kids too, I could see it on their faces, the despair and sorrow.

It was when I turned twelve that I had begun running up the hill at night. I was devastated about something and I wanted to go somewhere that no one will hear me cry. It was then when I first looked up and saw the stars shining that I remembered that there was a world that existed far from the town. Every night I came here and looked up, my home was the stars, not the small village I lived in, not the town I live in. But with the stars that were always there, even when others were not.

"Shadow!"

"Shadow! Where are you?" The calls were distant at first, it came from people who still hope for a better life. They made plans to run away and be free and dared anyone and everyone to come along. Even though I was still an outsider they allowed me to come, they are the type of people I wish to be, they will side with their worst enemy to do what is right.

I looked at the stars for the last time and got up, with my height on full display I became easy to find and they ran up to meet me.

"Shadow! There you are, are you ready?" Said the one who started it all, Kase, I used to like him, he was very attractive and outgoing, but his ambitions were too great and mine were too small.

"Where's your pack?" said Narla, she didn't like me ever since an incident long ago, one that I refuse to remember. We were best friends before that, before the Madame ruined us.

"I don't have one." I replied.

"You need a pack if you want to come with us, and it is kind of too late to go back into the town." She sneered.

"Who ever said that I was going to run away with you guys?"

Kase stepped in then, trying to stop our banter, "You said so."

"Ah, I told you to meet me here, I never said anything about leaving."

Narla hissed at me, "Cunning little thing, just like a shadow, gonna tell on us? Or have you already told?"

"No! Shadow would never do such thing!"

"Listen to your boyfriend Narla," I hissed back, "This is why I came," everyone gasped and stepped back as I pulled a knife out my pocket and unwrapped the fabric around it.

"Shadow, please this isn't who you are," Kase stepped forward like I was a feral animal, his eyes trained on the knife I held, he thought the knife was for him, they all did.

"No it isn't," I agreed. I turned the knife and pushed it as hard as I can into my own chest. I didn't feel pain as hands caught me before I could fall to the ground.

I heard Narla cry and apologise for all that she had said and Kase trying to comfort me and tell me how much of a good person I was and that he wanted to get to know me better. But all I did was look up at what awaited me.

I was dying, a shadow of what I once was.

"Stars, I see stars," I choked out. The others nodded with tears in their eyes.

They didn't understand what I meant. I didn't seem to mind.

Then there was only darkness.

I was home, in the stars.

Yay!! First one written!! I hope you liked it and don't regret clicking on this book! If you want me to write something just comment on here or dm me your idea, I will gladly try to write it and I will dedicate the chapter to you!! I'm gonna do all sorts of things on here so I hope you enjoy!!!
Ju