Starlight

Star light, Star bright,

The first star I see tonight.

I wish I may, I wish I might,

Have the wish I wish tonight.

 

Looking out from the window, up into the night sky, the boy saw the only star visible to the naked eye. So bright, yet so tiny. So near to oneself, yet separated by millions of light-years of vast emptiness. The star, what a magnificent mass of luminous plasma, formed from hydrogen and helium, and releases energy in the form of radiation, which to the boy, is just a spark on the dark and gloomy night sky.

It was well past the boy’s bedtime. The little cottage that he shared with his mother and little sister was quiet. Crickets did not chirp, owls did not hoot. It was as if the animals could share in the boy’s pain and sorrow. An aura of gloominess was cast on the cottage, impervious to all happiness and joy. Even the trees that was always standing tall with pride, bent down a little and the grass bowed down to with full respect for the dolor. It painted a picture so full of anguish, that even the happiest person would be sobered. Such was how the boy felt, a mixture of sadness, longing and confusion.

A whirlpool of grief, tempest of anger, vacuum of longing and the lingering darkness of confusion clouded the boy’s mind. Tears started taking shape, welling up in his eyes as he got caught up in his emotions. “No…I will stand strong. I mustn’t cry.” The boy thought to himself. But the emotions proved too strong for the poor boy and he broke down. Sobbing and curling into a fetal position, tears ran down his cheeks, and this time, he just let the floodgates open.

The bedroom door opened. The boy’s mother stepped in. “Son, why are you up? It’s past your bedtime honey.” The boy wiped away his tears. “I’m fine Ma.” “You thinking about Dad, honey?” “Yes.” “He’ll be back soon, honey. I promise.” And with an embrace, the boy’s back in bed.

Geraldine had many things on her mind as she left her son’s room. She knew that her husband was dead. He had stood up to defend his country and had been buried somewhere on the battlefield. There was nothing left of him, save that lock of hair in the locket that she wore on her neck.

Geraldine knew that her son would never see his father again. But she never knew how to break it to him. So she left it. Day by day, week by week, Thomas was left thinking that his father is still out there, risking his life for the country. Geraldine knew that it was not supposed to be like this.

Slowly lying down on the bed, Geraldine felt the grief strike against her heart. She always thought that it wasn’t true, that her husband would somehow make it back from the war alive, that the family would be together. But that was not to be. She felt the reality of it all for the first time. She was holding on to a belief all along, a belief that can never be true.

Geraldine looked out the window. A bright star twinkled in the sky. She wanted to make a wish, to hold on to the belief that her husband will be fine.

“Star light, star bright…”

Reviews

[therisingpower]

hey tengwei, thanks for the review.. here's one for you.. hahax.. hmm.. nice rendition of a 1940s wartime story.. could add few more chapters too yea.. good starting plot to expand on.. intro the names a bit earlier.. like the 2nd para maybe, so it will keep the descriptive feel and yet not sound abrupt.. =) nice use of the 'starlight' to bring about the deep atmosphere yea.. ;)

[Galldora King]

I havent finished this story but i love the begganing.I like how you started it with a poem very unique.


Wow now that i have finally read it it was even better than i thought.It was...............oh i dont know but it was just fantastic.It is so sad but yet beautiful in everyway.