English Version: Sands & Sparrow

60

The evening had become brighter in the modern world. The tall buildings stood as if nothing had changed over the years. Time continued to move into the future, with scientific discoveries bringing life to the century, yet the world still reflected the culture of the past.

"Hannah, you should go to sleep," Robert Caldwell told his ten-year-old daughter. Robert Caldwell, a fifty-year-old man, had a gentle face and a warm smile. His blonde hair was streaked with gray, he had a prominent nose, and his pale blue eyes sparkled with kindness. "Here...I'll fix your bed," he spoke softly as he smoothed the creases of her blanket. He turned on the lamp, which flooded the room with a colorful, dim light, casting shadowy shapes of stars across the walls. The room transformed into a galaxy, enchanting the child's eyes.

Hannah yawned, but her eyes remained bright with the magic of the night. "One story? Dad?" Her hair was the same shade of blonde as her father's, but more radiant, like a ray of sunshine. Most of her features came from her mother. Her eyes were a deep shade of blue that sparkled like sapphires. Unlike her father's tanned skin, Hannah was endowed with fair skin and a beige undertone.

"Do you like to see the stars?"

"Yes, Dad..."

Robert smiled at her and softly tapped her head, making her giggle. "It's late, sweetheart. You should go to sleep."

He went to the wall and pushed a button to open the blinds covering the window. The stars glittered in a magnificent sight from the window. A huge telescope was placed near her bed.

"The Passer can be seen. You need to adjust the lever for a perfect view," Robert peered at the telescope.

"What's the Passer?" Hannah asked curiously. He rotated the small circle around the device to look closely at the star. "Decades ago, someone discovered a star and named it 'Passer'; it's the Latin name for Sparrow."

"A sparrow? Why can a star be named after a bird?" She yawned, rubbing her eyes to fight off sleepiness.

Robert stopped watching the star and sat on the bed. He briefly looked at the ceiling as if remembering the story, then he removed his glasses and wiped the lenses with the sleeve of his white shirt. "Maybe 'Sparrow' is a special name for the person who discovered the star," he smiled warmly at her.

In her sleepy eyes, her eyelashes began to flutter. "Dad, do you still love Mom?" she asked with a sleepy voice.

He gently brushed her hair. "There is always love that is left when a person leaves. Sometimes we can't lose what we never had, we can't keep it, and we can't hold on to something that doesn't want to stay."

"Is there a soulmate, Dad?" Hannah continued, then raised the blanket to her neck. Robert's pale blue eyes were amused. "Now, you ask a lot of questions before going to sleep." She simpered with dimpled cheeks. He took a deep breath and looked above, searching again for an answer, then glanced at her. "Maybe a soulmate is someone who comes into your life peacefully. It can make you question things, change your reality, and even transform your world for a moment..."

"I still love the story of Altair and Vega...I wish it's true." Hannah embraced her teddy bear. He lightly caressed the bridge of her nose. "You can have your fairytale. Go to sleep, it's already late."

"Goodnight, Daddy."

Robert kissed Hannah's forehead. "Goodnight, my princess." He left the room; she was staring out the window, watching the brightest star. "Shall I sing you a song?" Hannah whispered. Her gentle voice hummed a song to a lovely star, the words from a poem by E.E. Cummings that her father had taught her. She began to sing in her mind.

In the middle of a bright city, the crowded streets were alive as the starry black sky watched over them. Huge, giant buildings stood along the road, hovering like watchmen, quiet as if blessed by the angels of peace.