Sunbeam

Uncountable light-years away, moons ago, in a solar system similar to our own, there was a little planet much like Earth. This planet was also covered in water. However, unlike Earth, there were two suns, one moon, and one patch of land; a single island alone in it’s world. The island was home to a myriad of Morning Stars. These Morning Star beings walked the island during zat; a time humans refer to as, “day.” They resembled humans, but they shined so brightly that it would be impossible of the human eye to make out the shape of a body. Morning Stars played an important role in taking care of the island. They brought light to the dark places of the island, shadowed by trees. When the first sun rose, the Morning Stars woke up and began their work. The name of the first sun was Surge.

            In the middle of zat the second sun began its descent. The name of the second sun was Slope. When the Morning Stars saw Slope, they knew that it was time to fall back into the sky and rest. By the time the second sun was out of sight, the sky was black and all the sleeping Morning Stars were visible and the moon awoke. This is the way things went on for countless years.

❂          ❂                      ✺                      ✽        ✴

            One morning Surge woke up and in the moments before the first Morning Star touched the island, he caught sight of the sea. The rippling waters entranced him, for he had never moved in such a way. He fell deeply in love with her rolling waves and sparkling shores. He dipped one of his rays into the waves with the hopes of gaining the ability to dance and to love, but the beam of energy melted into the blue. He didn’t realize it at the time, but by this one action driven by curiosity or love, he created and solved a problem.

            Since Surge had lost a sunbeam, he was unable to light up the sky for as long as he usually did, and he went to sleep early. The Morning Stars went loony. They weren’t used to sleeping this early, for their energy had not run out. So they stayed and waited for the sunset, Slope to send them off. This turned the sky orange for the time between Surge’s early slumber and Slope’s arrival.

            The Morning stars waited and waited until they saw a light. Believing this light to be Slope, the Morning Stars went to sleep, sending the island to shadow. Had they seen that the light came from within the ocean, they might have stuck around out of curiosity. For the light coming from the deepest part of the sea, was the birth of the daughter of Surge, a sunbeam. Her rising with the unseasonable night was the beginning of her journey.

❂          ❂                      ✺                      ✽        ✴

            When she finally arrived on land, she explored every tree and dew covered flower. The sunbeam discovered that everything she touched was brought to life. She radiated a light, not strong enough to brighten the whole island, but enough to see what she focused on.

            She had inherited her father’s curiosity, and began to wonder if there was anyone like her, or anyone at all. At this time the island was almost silent. Not a sound, save for the winds whistling through the trees. The sunbeam sat on the edge of a cliff overlooking the valleys on the east end of the island and imagined hundreds of other sunbeams dancing and singing songs of the sea. She was about to cry when a soft voice called out to her, “Sunbeam, you are not alone! We wish to be with you, but we need the sunset, Slope to complete his rotation. We mistook your light for his. No one has seen him in such a long time and without him the sunrise, Surge can’t wake up and we cant bring light to the island!”

            She looked up in the direction of the star and saw the twinkling of the one who spoke. “What can I do to help?” She asked.

            “Follow your inner light! Find the sunset!” The voice grew in intensity, but faded in volume.

            “Wait! Why can’t you help me? Show me your face!” The desperate voice of the sunbeam shouted back.

            “I am a morning star and I must wake with the morning. If ever there is another morning. We need you to find the sunset and save us before our lights go out.” The morning star replied. This began her search for the sunset. Though she felt a beating in her heart and knew she must bring light, she longed to know where she came from.

            When the sunbeam started walking, she had no direction. She did no yet fully understand the way the times of day worked, but was determined to save the island and the Morning stars. She was intent on finding the sunset.

❂          ❂                      ✺                      ✽        ✴

            It was hard to tell how long she had been walking because of the constant darkness, but the sunbeam felt as if she was going nowhere. Her breathing grew heavy and her legs weary. Along with not quite understanding the way day worked, she didn’t quite understand how islands work. It wasn’t long before she started to see familiar looking trees and flowers and paths. Realizing that she wasn’t really going anywhere, the sunbeam turned down a new path at the first fork in the road. If it weren’t for her own glow, she would have tip toed through complete darkness for about three miles.

            Shouldn’t I have found some light by now? She thought.

            I have been walking for miles and miles and the only light I’ve known is my own. What does the sunset even look like?

            At this moment, the sunbeam looked up to ask help of the morning stars. She watched as one shot across the sky and burned out.

            I haven’t much time. And she continued on.

            ❂          ❂                      ✺                      ✽        ✴

            Eventually, she came to a cave and her light flickered.

            This must be the place.

            Despite the lack of light coming from the cave, the sunbeam chose to follow her inner light, and it was telling her to brave the shadows.

            “Who has entered? Don’t you know it’s rude to enter someone’s home without announcing yourself?” A raspy voice hissed from the dark.

            Yep, this is the place.