quiet nights and quiet stars

sometimes stars can sing and see

quiet moon and quiet branch

trees that wave above to me

This was the little song she made for herself when the wind was chilly and the sky turned dark. This was the song she sang to herself to keep only but herself company during the night. She could hug her arms around her legs or she could whisper to the air. She could lean down resting her ear on the ground — could she hear the ants dancing between the leaves? Could she focus on an instant?

She hummed the song softly to herself and over the water, glistening from the moonlight, she knew something was listening. She wasn’t afraid, but she knew that beyond the water, there was something else. She turned her head to take it from her mind. Her eyes drifted to the stars as they always did on nights like these. And she smiled a great smile of gratitude. 

“Thank you, stars! I’m so glad I’m here!”

In the distance, beyond the water within the trees — something rustled. She focused on it. Breath quickening. Heart racing to the point where she had to reach up and hold her own chest, stablize it. 

No, it’s nothing.

Rising and falling against her hand. And then, she realized where she was and breathed deeply again. She crouched down within the tall grasses and her heart beat slowed. 

Thump thump. 

Thump thump. 

Thump thump.

Closer to the earth now and she could feel the heat of her breath and how it bent the grass by her side. 

There was nothing to be afraid of, but movement was so alarming sometimes. So, she laid back and closed her eyes humming the little tune of her own creation as the forest, the sky, the water and whatever else was out there bent closer to hear her soft voice.

…