Starry Night

By R.J. Byrd

*15 minute writing challenge*

When I was younger, I used to look up at the stars with a friend. It was her idea and I thought it was cool, so that’s what we did. It became something of a tradition. In the summer, sometimes we would just lay out on my driveway with no blankets or anything. When it got colder, we would use blankets and pillows and lay on top of her stepdad’s work truck. Looking up at the stars was fascinating and humbling.

I saw multiple shooting stars. Those are cool; some are short and fast, and others have long, wide tails. They’re beautiful. Or at least we’re far enough away from the phenomenon that it’s beautiful. All those nights of staring up at the stars from my driveway were memorable. I discovered star gazing was even more amazing when you escape light pollution.

Going out to the woods and staring up at the sky is wonderful. There are so many stars. You forget how full of stars the sky really is. All that glittering beauty is hidden for most of us. It’s a shame. Seeing it regularly might do something for us as humans. All that beauty, all that wonderment, available for free every time we looked up at night.

Copyright R.J. Byrd 2024 All Rights Reserved.