Fallen Star

Chapter 1

My grandmother pointed to the sky. It was dark but glittered with plenty of lights. Some big, some small. "Grandma, what are all those lights?" My five year old self asked, she let out a small chuckle and said, still pointing, "Those are all stars, my child."

She rested her outstretched hand on my shoulder and shifted me to the other side of her lap with a small grunt. "Wow! Every single one of them?" I asked before I began to count every star that I could see.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5...
My grandmother let out a short laugh.

"You can't count them all, Aidan."
"Why not?" I asked still counting.
10, 11, 12, 13, 14...
"Because there are too many."
"How many?"
"Too many to count. I didn't show you this so you could count. I showed you this so you can see the beauty of the night sky."
I stopped counting and looked at the sky in silence following my grandmother's lead. The longer I stared the more calm and warm I felt. "It's relaxing isn't it? Just peacefully staring at the stars." A big smile grew across my face as I nodded my head, "It is!"

My grandmother looked at me with a serious yet warm smile, "Listen Aidan, there will come a time when you will meet a star, but do not panic, instead, greet them with a smile and welcome them with open arms. Understand?"

I didn't.

"Uh-huh!" I nodded not wanting to disappoint her. Her smile grew and she continued to speak. It was distant, no, it was silent. I can't hear her. Slowly the image of staring at my grandmother from her lap began to fade.

*riiing*

I woke up.

I stretched out my hand and hit the top of my alarm. I rolled over on my side and muttered to myself, "Five more minutes..." Just before fully falling back asleep I heard my mom call my name from downstairs. "Aidan, breakfast is ready!"

I turned back over and faced my alarm clock again, 7:30AM. "I only slept four hours..." I said aloud groggily. I sat up in my bed and looked around my room.

My telescope stood by my desk which was covered with incomplete homework and assignments. I cringed at the sight of all the work slowing piling up. I'd do it if I didn't want to. Besides, I don't really understand most of that stuff anyway.

I finally got myself out of bed and got dressed for school. Before leaving my room I quickly and carefully packed my telescope in its narrow bag and put my arm through its straps with my backpack. I left my room in a hurry in hopes that my mom won't scold me for letting my food get cold.
"Your food is probably cold already, Aidan!"

Too late.

That isn't much of a surprise, I'm really a slow person in general no matter what the task at hand is, though if you ask questions about the constellations I'll answer them in a heartbeat.

I set my backpack and telescope down next to my chair and sat down. "How late did you stay up this time?" a voice asked from across the table. It belonged to my elder sister, Alana.
"Until three." I responded mid yawn. Alana and I are one year apart so we're pretty close as siblings. Whenever I think about how close me and Alana are it makes me wonder how most siblings get along like oil and water.

"You wouldn't be so tired of you went to sleep early." Alana said.
"If I went to sleep early I-"
She interrupted me, "I know, I know, if you went to sleep early you'll miss the stars." I was going to question her asking me if she already knew had I not noticed something.

"Where's my bacon?" I asked looking at my mom. "You took too long, so I ate it." Alana answered.
I guess no matter how close siblings can still be annoying.

I was going to snap at her but that would take too much energy, which I didn't have a lot of right now. "It's time to go, kids, you ready?"
"No, I haven't even finished my eggs yet." I responded.
Alana joined in "That's what you get for being so slow."
Reluctantly I left with my plate half eaten, belly half full, and my eyes half open.

We all got into the car and off we went to school. The ride to school is usually fifteen minutes. I can squeeze in a nap. I leaned against the window and let my eyes shut.