Mist and Starlight

Awakening in a dimension of mist and starlight, Stella can't remember anything but a distant yearning for someone she once knew.

Stella drank in the stars splattered across the amethyst sky. They seemed to cradle her, leaving her with a sense of calm. You will find them. Starlight illuminated the mist curling along the obsidian ground, sparkling with strata. The mist had a curious quality to it, searching across her body like a dog sniffing her for the first time.

Stella only knew her name. A peace settled over her, along with a sense of completion. She stared down at her fingers. They no longer bore the wrinkles she had long been accustomed to. Something akin to nostalgia filled her chest, and a tear slipped down her cheek.

“You don’t need to cry,” a soft voice said.

“I’m not,” Stella said.

“You don’t need to lie.” The person sounded as if a smile kissed their eyes.

Stella looked around, but the cool mist made everything fade into white. Her eyes always looked upwards towards the sky, somehow unknowable and more tangible at the same time.

“Where are you?” Stella asked

“Do you not remember?”

Stella scanned the mist once more. Its dance taunted her. “I don’t understand.”

“Come find me.” They laughed.

“Find you?” Stella asked and waited several moments. “Hello?”

They had disappeared, and a hollowness built in her core. Now that they had vanished, she realized how familiar their voice had been. Stella wrapped her arms around herself. Her fingers bit into her skin. She would find them. She had to.

She just didn’t know why.

Stella took a step forward and then paused. Her eyes trailed up to the stars, and she tried to find an answer in them. Where do I go?

You already know.

“Can you all stop being mysterious?” Stella muttered and stalked into the mist. It scattered as she walked, its twirls disrupted. Her skin grew damp as she moved further into the fog. The stars were her only guide, only she didn’t know which one to listen to.

The only one that matters.

Stella stopped and pressed a hand to her heart, feeling it beat. Her pulse comforted her, reminding her she had stayed human even in this place. Memories brushed her mind, more like watercolors on canvas than a clear picture. Feelings filled her up with nowhere to place them. Where had she gotten herself to? Who was she trying to find? What was she supposed to follow? Her heart skipped a beat, like it needed her attention.

She stopped moving and stared down at the silver lines breaking through the black. She knew where to go, didn’t she? Her heart beat grew steady, and the mist seemed to warm. She turned to the left and with every step; the mist swirled around her, no longer running away, but enveloping her in its dance. She became a part of it with every step as she felt her heartbeat in her hand.

Her pulse was the only guide she needed, after all.

She found herself in a clearing, the mist fading away. The strata meandered its way to a black tree with silver leaves. On the lowest branch, a person with pale skin and black hair sat with their back up straight, leaning forward as their fingers gripped the branch and their feet swayed. They exuded childlike whimsy despite being a full-grown adult. And Stella knew them.

Oh, how she knew them.

“See, I knew you could do it,” they said.

“Orion,” I whispered, the word like a spell cast in the night.

They smiled. “You remember me.”

Flashes of days spent together, Orion and Stella. Sitting out on a porch, rocking on a bench. Picking fresh strawberries in their garden. Watching soap operas and making fun of them, while secretly being in love with them. In love, that’s what she was.

“I thought I’d never see you again.” Stella practically ran towards the tree.

They glanced at her with a mischievous grin. Then their gaze went skyward. “Aren’t they beautiful?”

Stella looked up. The light pollution of even her little suburb had been enough to veil the stars. But now, she saw everything, so many dots of pure energy with countless names she’d never know. Overwhelmed, her gaze fell upon Orion.

“Are you going to come down?” Stella asked.

“Why would I?” they said. “It’s been so long since I could climb trees.”

“Well, then make room for me.” Stella stepped up to the tree and tried to find a handhold and felt a little stumped. “How did you get up there?”

“Magic,” he said.

Stella frowned and finally found some handholds. Nearly falling to the ground a couple of times, she pulled herself up to Orion. Her fingers gripped the branch until her knuckles turned white. She didn’t like heights at all.

“You’re okay, you know.” Orion chuckled. “We aren’t even up that high.” They slipped their hand over hers, and slowly Stella let go of the branch and entwined her fingers in theirs.

“Do you know what this place is?” Stella asked.

“You already know,” Orion said.

She looked up at the nebula sky and took a deep breath. The answer seemed too big to say out loud, so she squeezed their hand and smiled at them. It didn’t matter where or when she was. All that mattered was the hand entwined in hers.

“It’s our happily ever after.” They kissed her softly, their lips brushing against hers for one brief moment of bliss. Stella smiled and found that when she looked up at the stars, she could appreciate their beauty. No matter where they were, they had each other. Stella leaned her head on their shoulder. Orion felt warm and familiar. Memories flooded through her, but this time she welcomed them. It was okay to remember the past. Even if it hurt, even if it was gone.

See, it all worked out.

Stella looked up at the stars, as if asking a question.

I’m the guiding star. Be happy, little one.

For she had found her happily ever after.

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Hello! If you enjoyed this short story take a look at my Short Story Collection. I recommend Star Crossed or Collapsing Stars if you enjoyed this short story.

If you are interested in poetry consider reading I Was Born a Blazing Star. My other poems can be found here: Poetry Collection.

I also have some blogs where I talk about writing and mental health. If you are curious you can check them out here, and my most recent blog post is Splitting my Soul

If you want a longer read, consider checking out my Novella: The Mark of Death

And as always, I want to let you know how appreciative I am of you reading my work. I hope something about it resonated with you.