The Lullaby Nights

♥ 22

HARLEY

Inky infinity, in some places midnight blue, was specked with twinkling particles. Sporadic but white and fluffy clouds rolled slowly by, as if from their far distance they could hear the faint melody that was being played from a portable radio placed on the ground. There was no wind. Only a blissful stillness of nature accompanied by the humming of crickets hiding in the soft grass.

Lain on my back, I threaded my hand through its dark-green blades. The sensation was marvellous. Delicate and bonding. After all, humans were part of this beautiful creation called the world.

Continuing to wander my sight across the night firmament, I made a pause at the Milky Way. It was a beautiful, ghostly river of light. I found it difficult to look away but the sky was endless, allowing to make new discoveries each time I shifted my eyes to a different area of that obsidian vastness.

Living in the moment felt wonderful, but what made it even better, was that I shared this point in time with Nina.

She lay beside me, fingers interlocked firmly with mine as we observed the darkness above our relaxed bodies. Habitually for her, she looked stunning, even though she never paid much attention to her appearance.

I turned my head to the side and savoured the rare beauty she fully owned. Her face, reddish after sunbathing, was flecked with freckles just like the night sky was dotted with stars. Blue eyes stared heavenward, lost in stillness as they examined some constellation. Pumpkin-coloured hair, beautified by a cool glow of moonlight, had pooled around her head. I could not believe how lucky I was.

'Look!' She shot her finger up in the air. 'I found the Big Dipper!' She grinned, absolutely fascinated.

I scooted a tad closer so that my head rested against hers. 'Yeah, I see, but if you look further up . . . yup, just like that . . . and then slightly to the right, you'll also find . . . the little one,' I guided, and smiled as she found the constellation.

Nina's grin stretched wider. She then put her arm down and turned her face to me. She was so close that I could feel her fruity breath on my mouth. It smelled like lemons because she was sucking on some candy.

'I'm glad we came here,' she whispered, peering at me intently. 'Even though it was a long distance to cycle.'

I glimpsed over at our bikes, abandoned on the grass. Then I drew my sight back to Nina. 'Every good thing comes with effort, you know.'

'You think so?'

'Yeah, especially the most beautiful ones. Your parents must've been extremely tired after creating you.'

Nina's melodious laughter cut into the air. 'Your way of complementing a girl is very unique,' she said, still giggling. She then turned her face back to the sky. 'I wish the stars were really as tiny and pretty as they seem to be from down here.'

'How come?'

She dallied her eyes around the dark infinitude. 'So when they fall, they would look exactly the same, not like a massive, burnt out rock. Just imagine,' having said that, she turned her face back to me. 'You're walking down this field. It's evening, so everything you see blends into gloom. Nothing catches your attention because it all looks like dark silhouettes. But then you notice it. A tiny, bright sparkle in the grass, very similar to a diamond exposed to the dazzling sun. Curious, you decide to approach it, and then you find it, twinkling among the trembling grass blades. Your little star.'