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“Argh!” Araya winced trying to reach her shoulder blades. She almost knocked down the lantern beside her bed when she stood abruptly.
“Is it that pain again Ray?” Raina looked very worried as she dropped the palms of the raffia she was holding.
“It's been there for days now Mother. The last time I felt a thing like this was when I was twelve. You did something to make it go away didn't you?” Araya lost her balance in a futile attempt to get a look at her back.
“Ummh! Yes.” Raina’s voice lingered. She had hoped that Araya had forgotten that episode that occurred six years ago. “Careful now Ray. I'll get a good look at it later.” She gently rubbed her daughter's back.
“Okay. I’ll get some air. I think the stars are out.” Araya straightened her shoulders and headed out.” She looked over at Raina. Don't worry; I won't be out long.” Araya took the lantern and handed it to Raina to put out. She'd always wondered where her mother got that strange lantern with a feathery light that never needed any greasing.
Araya knew that her mother disliked it so much when she was beneath the stars and she failed to understand why. That was the time when the village came alive. Araya concluded that perhaps her mother was being protective of her only child. On the other hand, Araya always felt an unexplainable calmness and tranquility beneath the stars. It felt like letting her spirit soar after a long day.
Araya looked to the sky and smiled. Daylight had now given way to the evening. Darkness had come out to play but the illuminating stars dangling in the sky like elaborate torches had also come out to give a show. Araya thought of the stars as glowing magical beings with wings spread unto the heavens adorning the night.
Slowly she felt the nagging pain in her back subside. Araya began to stroll through her favorite path to the village square. She passed by a cheerful group of girls singing and dancing to the drummer boys. Araya stopped to watch. Soon the music began to reverberate through her body. She leisurely moved her legs to the rhythm.
Araya had never joined any group activity before. She was neither shy nor antisocial but something always pulled her back from being herself around her peers. She always felt trapped in her own body but not that night. Araya felt something shift inside of her and she began to dance. Swaying and turning slowly at first, her movement became fast and energetic. As she moved, the stars in the sky shone brighter.
Araya finally turned and all the dancing and music came to an abrupt halt. All eyes were now on her. Araya stopped moving when she saw the shock and terror in their eyes. It was then that she began to feel something in her back. It wasn't pain but a numb feeling. Araya tried to look back. This time she caught a glimpse of something shimmering and fluttering lightly on her back. Araya froze. Her eyes widened and she looked back at the looming crowd. Slowly, she backed away and ran as fast as she could back home.
“Mother! What is this? What is happening to me?” With dreadful eyes, Araya turned her back before she turned to look at Raina again.
Raina didn't look alarmed. Her eyes fell to the ground. The day she had dreaded since Araya was a baby had finally come.
Araya looked at the flickering lantern, then at her back, and then she looked at her mother with a suspicious stare in her eyes.
“You know what this is mother? This thing fluttering behind me is the same as the light in this lantern. Mother! Talk to me. What is happening?” Araya spoke uncontrollably.
“I'll tell you everything but you need to calm down Ray.” Raina lowered herself onto the bed and gestured for Araya to sit.
“It was a scary battle that night between the stars and the principles of the night. That night, I found her, your birth mother lying breathless behind the house in a pool of this glistening light.” Raina held Araya’s hands.
“You come from a time when stars were more than just energy high up in the sky. They were conscious energies. Special beings that dwelled amongst us. They were quite the spectacle with soft features and luminous glass skin that shimmered the entire space they occupied. But it wasn't just them. There were also principles of the night. These were dark entities more like shadows that hated the stars merely for their existence-they were always there to oppose their energy.
“One night, the shadows started a fight with the stars that turned into a battle. Soon, there were almost three shadow entities against a star. They were outnumbered. The night became pitch black and silence fell over the land. The humans had no say in heavenly affairs. We only watched in terror. When the battle was over, the few surviving stars made us swear an oath of silence. For as long as we never spoke of that night again, they would continue to illuminate the sky at night. They transformed into these celestial beings with wings and ascended. After that day, they seldom came down again.”
“So how did I end up here?” Araya looked away as she tried to hide the shine in her eyes.
“When I found her in the back, she was in a bad state but still, she shrouded you. You were just a newborn and you hadn't got any shine yet.’Every six years, she will bloom and be ready to join her kind,’ she had said before dissipating into white light.”
“So why didn't you let me go at six. Why did you keep me and lie to me?” Araya could not hold back her tears.
“The first time your wings showed, they were the brightest I had ever seen. The entire compound glowed that night. I feared the shadows would attack again. So I-I clipped them.” Raina looked at the lantern and lowered her head.
“Then you did it again when I turned twelve. You clipped my wings and reduced them to mere lanterns. How long did you think you could keep up with this?” Araya raised her voice.
“I was trying to protect you,” Raina yelled.
“You have done nothing but lie and keep me hostage here. Away from my kind. I've never felt free here and now I know why. You would never let me out of your sight all these years.”
“I didn't mean for any of this to hurt. I thought I did the right thing.” Raina wiped her tears. “But I know one true thing. I love you like my own.”
“Then let me soar.” As Araya spoke, her wings got bigger and brighter engulfing the hut with a blinding white light. She felt her feet elevate and slowly she let herself out of the hut.
“Do you promise to visit Ray?” Raina rushed after her.
Araya nodded. She slowly descended and enveloped Raina in an embrace. “Once I am done being mad at you.”
Raina managed a smile as she experienced the breathtaking moment when Araya graciously ascended to take her place in the sky.