What do you see?

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE?

 

“What we see depends mainly on what we look for” " John Lubbock.

 

Pale white in the never-ending velvety darkness, the moon shines bright with an angelic halo surrounding it. All eyes turn on her once she enters the sky. Her presence demands to be felt. For a moment, she will let you forget the burden of regret, remorse and reality you are carrying around. She will tease you. Show parts of herself in phases. Sometimes more, sometimes less. Phases beginning from absolutely nothing at all to something so radiant that she just can’t be ignored. Look at her. No, really look at her. What do you see?

 

Be careful. Don’t forget to breathe.

 

She won’t tell you how many hits she has taken over all these years. The craters will. And you may call her ugly for it, but I call her beautiful. Somehow the scars make her more than just a pretty face.

 

To the men working their nine to nine jobs in offices, she doesn’t really exist. To the scientists and astronauts, she is just another inanimate object spinning around the earth controlling the tides of the sea.

 

But they don’t understand.

 

She is so much more.

 

She is a symbol of hope for the man who just failed to reach a conclusion after working on his research for years. She reminds the little girl who has just been tucked in by her father of the bedtime stories her mother told her. She consoles the lonely girl on the terrace and convinces her that she isn’t alone. She bridges the distance between lovers separated by a hundred miles. For the old man sitting on the pavement she is a hateful creature because all he sees in her is the colour of the shroud he placed on his dead wife’s body.

 

She is a lesson for the vain, teaching them that they will fall once they reach the peak and it will be okay because they will rise again. She calms down the psychotic patient in the mental health facility because he sees a ship with Peter Pan and Tinker Bell on it floating over her. The musician playing his violin by the window in his room on the third floor loves the steady rhythm of the moon. The eclipse reassures the teenage girl crying her heart out, thinking her life is the worst it could ever be, that this too shall pass.

 

Hope. Veneration. Faith. Beauty. Rebirth. Death. Memories.

 

Everyone sees what they want to see.

 

At the end of the day, it is just the moon.

 

So look at her. What do you see?

 

Be careful. Don’t forget to breathe.

Reviews

[emmajoy]

'Everyone sees what they want to see.' .. .. 'Pale white in the never-ending velvety darkness, the moon shines bright with an angelic halo surrounding it. All eyes turn on her once she enters the sky. Her presence demands to be felt.'

Your writing really is quite beautiful. Start to finish, your words hold immense hope and peace. Tis like being given the most glorious finely wrapped gift, then removing the wrapping layer by layer, minute by minute, knowing that's what's inside will be kept forever. The moon is the magic all Mankind craves for.. tis precious.

[Samaira]

Thank You. I do agree.

[S.P.GORAI]

Your sentences are long. My advise to make it short to understand .

[Samaira]

I'll keep that in mind. Thank you.

[Jyoti_Ablaze]

A story so well woven and crafted that I lost myself..
I will think about your work every time I will look at the sky for the moon..
Loved it!

[Samaira]

Thanks Jyoti. I'm glad i could have that effect on you.

[Sami Khalil]

A gorgeous write with giving attention and due respect the moon in her nightly reign. Excellent. .....:))))))

[Samaira]

Thank you so much.

[Sami Khalil]

You are welcome. ....:).......

[Braden Freeman]

I am glad I found your work. You are very talented. I agree that everyone sees what they want to see. What I see is a lovely story written by a great lady.

[Samaira]

Thank yo so much Braden. Much appreciated. Keep reading.

[daninstockholm]

As I read more, and as your intentions became clearer, the more i realized how very thoughtful and well done this is. I love the imagery.

[Samaira]

Thank you so much.

[R Smith]

Exceptional writing Mannat, if there is an award for short story writing then you just won it, I love this tale of the moon and how different people interpret it in different ways, you have created a work of true beauty :)

[Samaira]

Thank you so much Richard. This means a lot to me. I'm really pleased to know that you liked it.

[Valentine]

I marvel mostly at not just the moon, but the whole universe and just what in the world holds it up and spinning. Very nicely written. Valentine

[Samaira]

It does seem amazing how everything works in such a synchronus manner. Thank you.

[Shivai]

Beautiful!
Nice concept added to my library!

[Samaira]

Thank you Shivai!

[Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere]

An excellent short story, Mannat. I like the way you look at the moon. Very good. :) Rudi

[Samaira]

Thank you Rudi.