Stella

“They are beautiful.” I heard Stella speaking softly beside my ear.

“I know right. The stars are beautiful when they are bright. Just like now,” I replied looking at the beautiful scenery of shining stars that are scattered around the black sheet of paper or that’s what the dark sky looked like.

Eating snacks that were prepared earlier and a soft music playing in the background from my phone made the mood more peaceful.

“Look, there’s a shooting star,” an excited voice was heard which made us both close our eyes and pray.

‘Please let us both be together forever.’

I looked at my side to catch the excited Stella still closing her eyes with a sweet smile latched onto her lips.

Once she opened her eyes, she immediately turned towards me and her smile turned brighter. Just like her eyes. Bright and shiny. The most beautiful eyes I have ever seen.

“What did you wish for?” she asked and suddenly shook her head before I spoke, “No. No. Don’t speak. It is said that if the wish is spoken, it would never be fulfilled.”

I gave her a smile and nodded my head without speaking anything. Just looking at her can fill the life with happiness. Even the stars above are not as bright as her smile. Then why should I waste my time looking at those dull stars when the brightest star is standing in front of me.

She did not turn her head back towards me once she started gazing at the stars. Without turning her head she spoke, “You know? I heard that once someone is dead, they turn into stars and be with us for a lifetime. Is that true?”

I turned my head towards the sky and replied, “It’s all about the belief Stella. If you think they are true then it is true. Likewise if you think it’s not then it is not.”

“Hmm.” Without looking at her, I know that she nodded her head.

“I wonder if Mom and Dad are there too?” Her voice turned a tiny bit gloomy.

I knew that she always missed them. Who would not? They were wonderful people who spread love everywhere they went.

“Do you believe that they are there?” I asked in return.

“I hope so.”

“Then they are there.”

“That’s great,” her bright smile is back and that is what I want. She once again turned upwards, “Mom, Dad. I miss you guys but I am still happy here. Don’t worry about me.”

Her speaking to them made my spine straight. My fist clenched and jaw tightened. I need to speak to her. I can’t hide forever.

“Stella, I need to say something.”

She probably heard the tension in my voice, she turned nervous immediately.

I hate seeing her like this. But I can’t help it.

I took the file that I hid behind my back until now and handed them to her. “We never knew that theirs is hereditary.”

As soon as she heard my words, her hands trembled which just held the file that I gave her.

She did not speak a word. She slowly opened the file and scanned them.

The silence in the middle of night on the terrace of our house, remained silent. The light sound of turning the pages increased the feelings in the atmosphere.

I expected her to cry, weep and wail. She is such a fragile girl from her childhood after all.

But there is nothing. Not a single sound.

After a long time, the corners of her lips turned upwards. “I guess Mom and Dad gave me more than a beautiful family. I told you that they love me so much.”

I didn’t understand the strength she gathered to speak those words but I couldn’t control my feelings any longer.

A silent tear escaped my eye but looking at the strong girl in front of me, I knew that I should be stronger.

I eradicated the escaped drop of liquid and smiled back at her and simply pulled her into a hug to comfort her or myself or both.

. . . . .

It’s been a year.

A year which is the busiest in my entire life.

Seasons changed. Clouds once covered the entire sky and then they were cleared too. It was cold and now it was warm again.

It is the same weather as that day when we sat at this place looking at these stars.

Looks like nothing changed. Maybe a few stars were added while a few were removed?

After an exhausting day I slowly sat in my previous seat just like in the older times. Got a few snacks and switched on the music in my phone and turned my head upwards leaning back slowly.

“Hmm.. Nothing changed.” A smile crept up unknowingly.

Oh! There is a new star. It is the brightest one visible among all the other stars.

“Stella, look there is a shooting star,” I exclaimed and closed my eyes to make a wish.

“Stella and me forever.”

“Hey, do you know whom I met today?” Just like that I started speaking about everything that happened in my entire day.

Speaking about the events that occurred in the day with each other at night was our habit for a very long time. That never changed.

“Stella, I never knew that you missed Mom and Dad so much. You should have spoken to me. You know that we can share everything with each other right?”

There was no reply. Just that bright smile like always.

That very smile that always lightens up my life. That surely never changed. All the fatigue can be gone in a second just looking at her smile.

She is always like this. Bright. Brighter. Brightest.

Brightest star of all.

Star?

Yes. I came back to my senses. My eyes left the star that was the brightest among all the other stars.

Once I turned my head, I looked at the empty space and the satisfied smile turned gloomier.

I slowly looked back at that star again, “Stella, is that really you?”

“Well, it should be you. After all, there is no one who can be brighter than you,” I replied to myself, “Hey, my wish last time, remember? I asked for us to be together. We are still together right? We can still see each other and talk to each other. Yes we are always together.”

We will always be together. Just like this.