Star by Eliza Witte - HTML preview

Epilogue

During the summer vacations when Annie came home to see us in Huston, where we lived as employees of Johnson Space Center, we had plenty of time to talk over and over again of the hardship and friendship she had. Although I’ve had the chance to observe her closely while I was still… above her, I have never become tired of listening to the whole story from her own point of view. Earth is a strange place to experience… the experience. Some of you maybe would ask if we weren’t homesick. No, every human you meet on your way is a star, a star with his or her own merit – some are young, some are old. Some shine more brightly for you but that’s just because they are closer. Some are very far away, on the other side of the globe and just wait for you to reach out your friendly hand towards them. And as strange as it may sound, every August night we accept more and more visitors. In August when there are a lot of shooting stars and meteor showers, your friends from above come to bring their cosmic love to you. During one of those warm summer nights, we camped outside and counted them. Annie was lying on the blanket when she asked us, ‘Have you sneezed yet?’

Alcyone answered before I managed to, ‘Your mum has an allergy, you know that?

She constantly sneezes when there’s dust around.’

Annie burst into laughter, ‘Good idea, mamma! I hadn't thought of that. Yeah, usually the Boss asks you what you would like to experience here but I hadn't thought of saying,

‘allergy’. How about you, dad?’