It had been a long hectic day at work but none too rewarding. A monotonous routine, a monotonous life; everyday leaving me all drained. I slowly inched out of my office to the bus stop, all my steps slow but decided, my soul subdued, for I was preparing myself for the same old end of the day: slumping on the sofa with the last slice of pizza left in the fridge, being both physically and emotionally exhausted. Oh! How wrong I was to be expecting a night like any other. There and then, I was an oblivious soul unbeknownst to the adventure that would soon overtake me.

I kept walking at a dull pace but as I rounded a corner, something strange happened. Something unlike any other boring day in my life. The whole street was covered with fireflies and a girl was in the middle of the street playing with them. This was strange as fireflies weren’t found in this part of London and moreover, even if found, they weren’t White. But there they were, covering the entire street, flying all around and lighting up everything. I looked around to see who the little girl was with, for she looked around 3-4 years of age; certainly too young to be out at this hour alone. When I saw no one, I turned worried. Wondering if the little girl was lost. While I never approached a stranger myself, for the introvert I was, it was quite easy to approach the little girl with her silver glowing locks and bright eyes that sparkled like the stars. But before I could talk to her, she ran up to me and spoke out,

“My parents are nowhere to be found, big sister. Can you please help me find them?”

Her voice was tiny and soft, but yet sharp like a crystal. A mellifluous sound only possessed by children that you cannot resist.

I was tired, sure, but I could never turn my back on someone who might need me. I smiled at her and said.

“Sure little one, but first,”

Bending down to her level, I asked her,

“What’s your name and where are you from?”

“My name’s Astronomy. I live nearby, just a few block down from here. Can you take me to my home? My grandparents are home.”

I replied with a yes and took her tiny, chubby little hand in mine as she began guiding me down the street.

“Astronomy! What a strange name for a little girl!” I wondered.

“It is strange isn’t it? But it’s still a beautiful name connected with something just as beautiful.”

I was startled.

“How did you know what I was thinking?!”

“You spoke it aloud di! That’s why I could hear it.”

She said this simply, with a twinkling laugh. I was left wondering as I couldn’t remember saying it out loud.

As we kept walking, I looked around. I was surprised to find a completely new surrounding. Even after spending 5 years in London, I didn’t remember walking down this street so close to my house. It was unlike most of London. It was peaceful and pollution free. The sky was the clearest it could be and the stars looked gorgeous against the dark canvas of black. In no time, we reached a river. To my surprise, I could see the fireflies like the one I had just seen in the waters of the lake. It was a glorious sight. One of utter beauty. But as I kept watching, I realized that those weren’t fireflies I saw. I quickly looked upward and my eyes were welcomed with the most beautiful sight I’d ever seen in my life.

The whole night sky was covered with stars, and star clusters, and I could see the Milky Way from here. This was a sight of wonderment. With no light and air pollution in this part, looking above was like looking at what has been described of heaven.

When the wonderments of the moment slowly gave way to a realization I whipped around my head to look at Astronomy in wonderment; in the street, those weren’t fireflies that the little girl played with, those were stars.

Astronomy, however, simply smiled a sweet smile at me and took both my hands in hers.

“Close your eyes, trust me.”

Even though she was a stranger I met just some moments ago, even though it all might have been just a trap, there was this sense of calmness radiating from her. Her hands were like a sea of comfort pulling me in, and so, at that moment, I trusted her fully and closed my eyes, letting go of my conscience.

A million twinkling lights
they engulf me in their arms
and they invite me to their world
they bask me in their warmth

Oh, what a wonderful decision I made, to trust her! As I closed my eyes, I was swooped up to the beautiful sky. There was a world of colours around me, colours of galaxies. I was in a place away the world but somehow, it felt more home than that apartment I left behind. As I delved deeper and deeper into this world of stars, planets, and galaxies, as I watched all the colour unfold around me, the knot in my soul slowly dissipated. Along with the different shades of the universe, I could see the different shades of myself.

And then, I started speaking out to the universe. Began reaching out to the stars. I spoke out everything that was in my heart. Every single word that I couldn’t share with anyone else, I shared those with the universe. And as my soul got closer and closer to the stars, I fell in love with myself along with the universe. It was like, knowing the universe was knowing myself for me. As if the stars were just my other half, waiting for me all this time, helping me release my soul and be the true me I was all along. I felt happy with this new family of mine. I felt free and more connected to myself than ever. I painted myself with the colours of the universe. Every second that I spent here, the stars released me from the prison I had locked myself in. With my stars, I regained my happiness, I regained my soul, my childishness, and my freedom. I rediscovered myself.

As the stars slowly enveloped me in their arms and dropped me safely to the land again, I felt calmer than I’d ever been. It was the most beautiful feeling I ever felt. I looked up to the sky and saw the stars looking at me softly, ready to welcome me anytime I wish to re-embark on their journey. And I smiled back at them, thanking them for helping me emotionally and spiritually. This bond formed today was of the uttermost significance to me, and I knew that I was welcome in this comfort place of mine whenever I wished to come.

With the stars, there lies my home
it is somewhere that I belong,
somewhere I feel warm,
a place where my soul lies strong

I breathed out a deep breath and looked around. There was Astronomy, her silver hair gleaming like the moon, her eyes glittering with the light of the stars. It was for sure, she was not a normal person, but I did not panic as I realized the truth then. It wasn’t I who was helping her the whole time. She was the one, there to help me, to guide me. She was the one that helped me connect with the space. She looked at me softly and whispered in her twinkling voice,

“This world is yours to enjoy. Your heart belongs with the universe and it loves you just as much as you love it. The knowledge it has to give to you is vast, so make wise use of it. You are now entrusted to understand the mysteries of the universe and you are welcome here anytime you feel like the world is suffocating you. I now gift this gift of Astronomy to you for I see how your happiness lies with the stars.”

Her body dissipated into millions of white lights, stars that I mistook for white fireflies earlier, and they joined their rightful place in the sky.

The little girl was a messenger of the stars
she was a beautiful warm world of her own
and in her eyes, you could see a vast sight
and through her sight, all mysteries of the universe were shown

Astronomy guided me to a place I could call home. This place was somewhere I belonged, somewhere I was appreciated for my individualism. This place was somewhere that I could be me, understand me and love me. I smiled softly to myself as today was the craziest and yet the most calming of all adventures. This was a world so unknown yet known to me.

“Thank you Astronomy, thank you for introducing me to a reason of my happiness.”

The vast night sky calls out to me
it reaches out its arms and pulls me in
a world of wonderment, a world of comfort
a world where I truly feel like me

Somewhere so unknown,
but yet to my soul, it’s known
for every step I take here
it’s a step closer to home