Star & Twinkle (Completed)

Chapter 33

Star went over to her daughter and sat down next to her. She had been so busy with work all these years that she realized that that was the only time she was able to just sit and carefully take her time to look at her daughter and really see how much she has changed over the years. It was that day when Star finally held Twinkle's hand that she realized how much Twinkle has grown. Their hands fit perfectly like a puzzle. She carefully examined both their hands. Twinkle has perfect nails and long and bony fingers. Her skin felt soft and smooth, and it seemed to glow under the light. Star caressed Twinkle's hand softly and led it gently to her own face. She let Twinkle's warmth touch her cheeks as she closed her eyes. Where did the time go? Star wondered. Lying there with the bright light hovering over them, she can see how well developed Twinkle's features have been over the years.

Even though Twinkle was asleep, Star could see how even more beautiful Twinkle is now that she's a fully grown adult. Star thought Twinkle had the perfect height and the perfect weight. In fact, Star thought Twinkle's fully grown body could easily land her a job as a model. Twinkle's skin is also very much lighter than what Star remembers. Is this what America does to a person? Or did Twinkle spend too much time indoors and not enough outdoors? Star doesn't really know. In fact, she knows very little about Twinkle. She missed out on much of her life. She doesn't know the majority of how Twinkle chose to live her life especially when she moved in the United States. Star was not around when Twinkle transformed into the beautiful woman that is laying in front of her now. Star immediately frowned at that thought. She missed out on so many years that made Twinkle into the person that she is.

Star closed her eyes while she continued to hold Twinkle's hand up in her face. Her thoughts played a movie in her head for when Twinkle was little. From the pictures she had seen of Twinkle when she was young, she imagined a chubby little girl running around laughing and having fun. Her smile crossed her face from ear to ear, her eyes almost disappearing. From the stories she heard from people, little Twinkle was bouncy, curious and wanted to know so many things about the world. This reminded Star of herself when she was a lot younger. Everyone knew Twinkle was a good girl with a very big heart. Star thought Twinkle had a smile that could brighten up a room. Star loved seeing her smile. Twinkle also had a laugh that was very infectious. Her eyes would often disappear as she laughed. When she laughs, everyone laughs with her. Star swallowed back the lump in her throat trying not to cry at the thought that she missed out on so many years when she could have been there with her. She missed out on years worth of opportunities to see Twinkle laugh and smile. But now, one look at Twinkle made everything worth it for Star. For years, she had avoided to be with her, but now she longed for every bit of Twinkle's presence. She longed to see the smile that captured everyone's hearts. How can anyone not smile when they see her? Twinkle loved life, or so they told her. People that knew Twinkle said she had always wanted to live life to the fullest. She was the kind of girl that twirls in the sunshine and dances in the rain. She saw the good in every person and in every situation. She was loving even to the tiniest of creatures. Friends of Twinkle had told Star that she always woke up full of life and excited to see what life has in store each day. Those were enough for Star to long for Twinkle even more. People's stories about her made her desperate for moments with Twinkle. It feels like nothing else matters now, Twinkle's happiness was her happiness. How can it not be? One does not have to know Twinkle to know that she was the best person to be around; her charm and aura gave out such a positive vibe; she made the loneliest person come alive.

Star opened her eyes as if she woke up from a dream. She stared at Twinkle sleeping in front of her. She gave Twinkle a worried look. That smile, that infectious laugh, were they all just a mask Twinkle liked to put on everyday for everyone to see? Star wondered. Who is this girl, this woman, laying in front of her? The young, vibrant and carefree woman everyone told her Twinkle was, where did all of that go? What did time do to her? This was not the Twinkle that they all know her to be. At least, that's not how Star remembers her, and that's not how people describe her to be either. How could anyone not notice that the happy-go-lucky Twinkle they all know and love was disappearing? Maybe if Star had known, maybe if she had paid more attention, maybe if she was present at all in her life, she would have done everything to be able to stop Twinkle from completely vanishing.