When Space Did Us Part

I walked alone on the sand that stretched all the way across the horizon. It was nighttime, everything was quiet, just as I always wanted it to be. There were no signs of life everywhere, except a few drones flying around from the south, carrying crates and whatnot for the space base not too far from here.

Obviously, I don't live on your time. I still live on Earth, don't get me wrong, but it's the year 2193, a period where advanced technologies made space colonisation widespread. Not far from here is Alice Springs, a small Australian town that turned into a giant factory and space base.

As I stand here on the Aussie outback, I tasted the cold, dry breeze and the emptiness of the desert. I sat on a rock and enjoyed the skies. It was a nice breakaway from the factories, really, with all its machines continuously humming 24/7 as its workers constantly worry about developing new technologies to outperform China or something. . . I don't wanna give a frick on that one.

I looked towards where Alice Springs is, and although I couldn't see its very bright lights from here, I could still see a flash of light blue, forming a very long trail that pierced through the night sky. Another rocket has been launched, and I imagine the folks in there are celebrating it. But for me, it's not worth celebrating loved ones get separated from the ones remaining on Earth in the name of colonialism and war.

I followed the trail of blue as it reached for the stars twinkling peacefully as if no nation was fighting over it. The twinkling star reminded me of someone. . . of a girl that made me feel like my life was complete, and of whom I learned a lot from. Although the desert often looked bleak with life, to me this empty wasteland meant so much more to me.

I remember we used to drive here with Charity to escape from the bright, yet just as lifeless factory that is Alice Springs. We would lie down on the sand that served as cushions for our backs and watch the stars and meteor showers together. We would stay there for hours, before we must go back to Alice Springs when it got too hot because it's the damned outback and its literally hell over here. It was one of the best times of my life. Just seeing her smile, enjoy my company while I enjoy hers, joking that I'm the cutest person around when in fact she's the cutest girl in my eyes. No matter the season or schedule, everything we had grew here, on this same desert.

It was also on this very desert where I experienced the most pain.

"Quince. . ." I remember her reluctantly say.

"Yes?" I replied.

"Can I talk to you about something?"

In her reluctant tone I'd sensed that there was something bothering her head for a while now. What kinda scared me though, was the fact that I didn't know something was bugging her off and the fact that she didn't tell me sooner.

Nonetheless, I answered, "Sure."

Charity paused to take a deep breath, then said, "I've been thinking about this for a while. . ."

"Go on."

She then sighed. "I'm going to space."

News took a while before it sank into me.

"Leaving?" I clarified, still couldn't believe what I have just heard from her. However, a nod was all it took to before it sank even further, perhaps as much as my heart sank.

"Why? When?"

"Tomorrow. . . I may not be able to see you again. . ."

"Why didn't you tell me you were leaving?"

Charity's eyes landed down on the sand. It was a look I especially knew, when she didn't want to talk about something. As much as I wanted to learn more, I didn't want to force her to answer me.

"I'm sorry, Quince. . . I didn't want to leave, too."

I tried convincing her to maybe stay on Earth just a little longer or maybe let me come with her, but fate was set. Tomorrow was her leave. And I couldn't do anything about it except to accept that she was leaving.

Even though she was gone, I couldn't stop thinking about her. During my breaks I would go back to this exact place and look back at the stars, where she would be right now. As the stars shone as it always did to people looking for hope, it gave me hope too, nevermind the fact that I was hurt or struggling myself. I had liked to imagine that she's in better state out there, in space, having the time of her life, learning for herself. She may struggle at times, but I trust her judgment. I know she'll grow, and I won't stop her to.

And as for me? I've accepted that she went out of the little bubble that we had and kinda stepped out of the comfort zone. Proud of her for that actually – the best things in life do tend to come from outside our little bubbles. And who's to say I didn't take home a thing or two from her as well?

While it still kind of hurts from time to time, first, I'll manage; and secondly, the good outweighs the bad, and I'm more thankful for the good stuff that I felt and learned from that experience. I now have something joyous to look back on and reminisce, as well as being more appreciative of the things she enjoyed that I didn't care about before. I'm thankful that I got to experience caring so much about someone and having that experience go back to you – it's indeed the best feeling ever.

A shooting star flew across the night sky, and I bet some people are making wishes on it right now. But as for me, it's not about making wishes and hoping it comes true. Instead, it's a way for me to whisper a message to someone worlds apart, especially to someone that you hold or held dearly. The still stars that twinkle around it also connects people around the galaxy, because it's the one common thing that people see from around the galaxy.

As I gazed at the stars, about to whisper a message, I hoped that she's looking at the same stars I was looking at, even if we're worlds apart. It made me wonder – how does she feel about it now? Does she cherish the memories we had, or simply forget about it? Doesn't matter – what matters is that I do treasure what we had.

And in those treasures is her birthday.

"Happy birthday. I wish you nothing but success and happiness," I whisper to the shooting star. Then I remember that life is not always taki-taki rumba or singing Kumbaya. You never know when someone is dealing through a lot.

Still, I want what's the best for her.

"And know that I'm still rooting for you in your everyday struggles." I smile at the skies as if I'm smiling at her, even though space did us part.

* * * * *

Happy birthday to the girl I dedicate this to. I hope you read and enjoyed this long birthday messages disguised as a short story.

And as for the rest of you, what do you think? Should I put more short stories I make up in here?

1190 words not including the author's note. Not bad.

-qf