Of Falling Stars and Distant Hills

Chapter One

___________________________________

Similar souls wander in the similar places! They may not know each other, but often they touch the same winds, they step on the same leaves, their looks are lost in the same horizons!"— Mehmet Murat ildan
___________________________________

The June sun hung high in the sky as hot radiance beamed down from its heavenly perch in golden streams. Down, down they fell, drawing the Earth near in a summer embrace. Cicadas buzzed as the mid-afternoon heat refracted in the air. The sun's rays cascaded down through shifting trees and landed onto a beautiful estate. A red brick mansion rested upon a stately garden lawn, green and neat as a pin in the simmering heat. Guests peppered the garden in fine suit jackets and glowing sun hats. Some sat on fine wicker lawn chairs while others stood on the freshly cut grass.

Warm light fell and touched down gently onto a particular hat. White as the clouds it caught the summer beams in its brim, casting a glow onto the young woman below. Her freckled cheeks  round with beauty, gave way to a demure mouth. Her glossy hair was curled in long ringlets and spilled over her shoulders like ribbons of silk. Lady sat on a lawn chair, clothed in a white party dress and her mesh gloved fingers fiddled with a closed parasol in her lap. She tried hard not to tap her foot on the grass or bite her lip.

Instead she kept her eyes fixed upon a group of older women standing before her. In a small circle of chatter they stood with their parasols open. But it was her mother specifically who she watched, tall and graceful, her lips curved into a pleasant smile. Her pregnant stomach, though purposefully hidden beneath her waistless dress, still managed to peek through a bit. Lady tried but failed to hide the adoring envy across her face as she watched. She wondered if she'd ever be able to socialize with the grace her mother so charmingly exuded.

"Sweetheart, you can join them." A man chuckled beside her. Lady turned and looked at her father with a dubious smile. He also sat on a chair, dressed in a beige day suit and Panama hat, his leg across his knee. He was all too familiar with these types of events. Father was a kind, mustached gentleman with warm eyes and prominent smile lines.

"I never know what to say." She replied.

"They would gladly accept your company, I'm sure of it." Father said, reaching over and grabbing from the small table of refreshments between them.

"It's hopeless, I'll fumble and make a fool of myself." Lady said, with a mock pout.

Father chuckled again. "You are never going to break that shy streak of yours if you don't go out and try speaking with others. Why not try some of those young ladies"—he motioned to a group of teenage girls standing by the hedge bushes on the edge of the property—"and see if they want to chat."

Lady turned and looked at the girls with a nervous swallow. Under their hats they all had short, bobbed hairstyles curling about their ears and long pearl necklaces down their fronts. Lady reached up and gently tugged one of her ringlets. She sighed. They looked to be sharing a secret no matter how they spoke, and their constant giggling made it difficult to think otherwise. Lady cocked her head to the side and watched, mystified, as they carried on happily.

"They are just like you, sweet girl. I promise." Father said.

"But I don't really know them well." Lady countered.

"They all live within a few blocks of us and you could easily make a friend. All you have to do is walk over."

He paused as he spoke, and noticed a man across the yard motioning him over to a group of men, pipe smoke swirling about them. He smiled and rose from his chair to join them but not before affectionately patting his daughter on the shoulder. "It will be fine, why not give it a try?"