Stars Of Life

✦ Last Invitation

"I'll wake you up in time." Mama advised me to have some rest.

I nodded and left the kitchen after finishing a bowl of heart-warming veggies soup. Thinking of the day around the woods, it was like exploring the hidden natural landscape and obviously some moments were unexpected. I fell off on the ground in front of a stranger and teased him furthermore. I really have to say myself, I'm weird.

I closed the door behind me and removed my heavy coat and beanies that I was wearing. Without bothering to look around my room, I crawled into the cosy bed and soon drifted off.

"I love astronomy. And you know, sometimes I sense that those stars are the part of us. Somehow, without any evidence, I passed with this thought. It's just a random one, too." I said, pointing to the infinite space.

"My interests about the universe is withering away. I didn't get what you're trying to say." April spoke beside me. Her voice was deadly weak and face with countless unexplainable worries.

I give her a soothing smile. I comforted her, "Don't worry, I'll tell you what I mean. I'm just trying to say that I feel those stars have-"

She started crying, but why? I didn't know why I wasn't able to speak, so I just stared at her, unable to say a word. The view of Milky Way vanished, so was my friend April. The dark matter surrounded my body like a snake and there remained only darkness, though my mind was there.

"No stars, no light," I thought. I felt trapped somewhere at the longest night.

"Sage! Run!" A high-pitched voice shrieked around me, but I was unable to speak and run.

"Your stars might be in danger!" Another unfamiliar voice exclaimed nearby, so close to my ears, but I didn't feel anything.

The temperature was decreasing. And someone was saying, "Pastries and cookies? Okay. I hope she will love that."

"Sage?"

"Mama?" I opened my eyes instantly, breaking the unconscious part of my dreams.

"Sage, wake up!" Mama flipped the switch on blinding my eyes.

"Is it morning?" I rubbed my eyes, reluctant to leave the warm blanket.

"No, it's evening."

I only nodded, realizing it was the same day. "I can barely understand my dreams", I whispered while putting myself in a sitting position.

"I've something to tell you, dear." She said after a long pause, sitting near my bed. I read her face, she isn't sure whether to tell me or not. I didn't know what my face expressed, but she further added. And that meant I gave her a consent.

"There's a dinner invitation from April's home. They are moving tomorrow, so you must come with us."

"It's their last Invitation, then." I tried to question, but it sounded as a proper statement. She was fully concerned about by response.

"No worries, they'll be back one day." She assured me, standing up and walked towards the door.

"April won't be happy if she-"

She cut me off. "You two are childhood friends. Make sure to smile more so that she don't get uncomfortable. No grudges, remember." She left my room after I plastered a small curve on my lips.

I know this feeling and it's not new. I just can't get how to name it because I'd spent my entire time in solitude, but more or less I'm empty without my friends. Furthermore, I didn't mind what they did to me, as people get wrong occasionally. I cannot change their minds, but now, I can make my way to April's home, though I knew she'll make me cry. I responded to her words emotionally because she matters to me.

"You're going there, Sage? Really?" the broken part of me asked.

* * *

"I'm glad you came, Sage. Did she apologize to you?" Mrs Chen asked, serving me a mug of hot chocolate. My parents were having a long conversation with Mr Chen in the living room. And I was sitting beside the kitchen counter chatting with her.

I only shrugged.

"It's our last night here. And I'm afraid April changed like this. She's not even stepping out of her room."

"Well, I'm going to meet her then. She's still my best friend." I smiled back at her and walked out of the kitchen.

April answered the door after knocking three times, but as soon as she faced me, her expression went into horror. I wasn't a ghost, neither I look like one of those from spooky movies. Then why was she acting like that?

Silence.

We both heard our parents talking about our schools and exams on the other side of the room and there we were on the same house staring each other like prey and predator.

"S- Sage, you've to leave. I cannot bear you here any more." She muttered, avoiding my eyes.

"I'm not here to argue, and I don't mind about your rude comments but...but tell me your reasons why'd you suddenly break our friendsh- actually I think you as a sister." I paused, feeling a deep pit inside my throat.

"You're so cheesy, Sage. And that's the reason. End." She said nonchalantly.

"You are lying. You don't care I'm cheesy or not, do you? Gosh, you've seen me in my most anxious state."

"Look, you're arguing with me. Please, leave. Leave!" She gritted her teeth.

"Are you afraid of anyone or anything? I noticed it first on your face." I said calmly.

"None of your business. Now, lea-"

"April and Sage, come here, please." Mrs Chen summoned, slightly breaking the thick tension between us.

"If you made an excuse of leaving, I'll tell you the reason truthfully. I promise." She said in a cold voice.

"I've already been avoiding the word 'promise'. I don't believe in them because someone already break them a decade ago, I must say."

She stayed silent since it was the truth. And truth is always bitter to accept.

"I'm leaving. Text me." I stated, holding back my tears, and she nodded vigorously as if she really wanted me to disappear from her sight. How miserable! I am.

It was really hard to make an excuse without hurting Mrs and Mr Chen's hearts, but I came up with an original one. I told Mrs Chen that I'm having my period cramps. A real excuse. Unfortunately, my mama found it suspicious, and she asked me to talk to her once they were back to home.

I moved out of April's home feeling low, I glanced at the street and found myself all alone except the crickets singing at certain intervals. And there unexpectedly stood a tall figure, Kenzo. April's friend.

"You're leaving?" He asked tentatively when he saw my sad face.

"Yeah." I clutched the bag tightly, containing two lunch boxes full of eatables packed by Mrs Chen.

"Hm."

I gave him a small smile and started to walk on the pavement. Lastly, I saw a car that stopped in front of April's house where Kenzo was standing, and I guessed they were her party of friends. We were truly not the only ones accepting the last invitation.

And when she asked me to leave, I felt horrible and rejected from their lives.

But it's just a feeling and feelings doesn't last, does it?