Her face looked like that of the moon being sunken into the earth's shadow during an eclipse.

I reached my hand to hold her… But I couldn't touch her.

She… was disappearing..

Why… why now???

She looked at me and smiled.

She hugged me but I couldn't feel her at all.

I could only feel the warm feeling inside me.

It was grief.

She said something and I read her lips.

"My wishes have come true.. although… I wanted to be longer with you Hari.."

No. Wait…

"Thank you... I.."

A cold night breeze.

Like a silver thread of spider silk. She delicately disappeared like a shooting star.

She quickly came and quickly went…. fulfilling all my wishes.

My shooting star.

Right before me I saw something beautiful. A soul set free. A bird granted its freedom.

..

But I didn't cry. Not a bit… because…

Suddenly something fell. A paper and a pen.

It's my note.

The things I wanted to do before I die.

I picked it up and noticed something.

Behind it was something I did not recognise.

"A list of silly things.

✓ I want to talk to her

I want to hear about her

I want to know if she would accept me

I want to sing her a song

I want to be set free

I want to wish upon a shooting star with her once more

Ps. Hey if you are reading this then I must be gone right?

Talk about dark humour. But still I wonder if I had met you earlier how we would be? You don't seem to know about me at all. That quite surprised me.

I am looking at the evening sunset right now. Oh! I don't know why but I am only able to touch you and things that belong to you. I tested. I can only touch your pen and paper.

What a way of wish fulfilled ha!!! Never thought it would, but turns out that if you wish with all your heart on a shooting star, it does come true.

Meet you again…"

My cheeks felt damp.

What the hell huh? You made me cry now…

How much are you going to make me feel?

Yet again I let you see another pathetic side of me..

The tears from my eyes won't stop flowing…

"Hey.. take responsibility… Hey…"

……

Just then I noticed something…

There was something more written ..

Huh!

My eyes were wide open.. What … you…

In the folded part of a paper, you lent me a gift to look at your life..

                                                                * The words in the (..) are of Ritsu

(Ps.ps… I actually want to give you something..)

I was running as fast as I could. I hopped on the bus and looked at the letter once more

(Never thought that I would be telling this to someone…)

The bus stopped and I started to run again.

(In a book I have kept something that is close to my heart)

I was in front of a flower shop and it was closed.

I fell down on the ground on my knees. My efforts were in vain.

(Near an old alarm clock on my desk is a pink notebook)

Just then a woman appeared.

"Ohh Hari are you okay my child?"

"Mrs. Ludwig.. I…"

She smiled and said," I am leaving home. Will you come too my child"

"Thank you Mrs. Ludwig"

(There is a key to my drawer use it to open it)

I reached your home. Now all I have to do is..

"Mrs. Ludwig, can I see Ritsu's room please?"

She was confused at first but then she agreed.

A room not too flashy. A bed, a study table and a bookshelf.

But somehow it felt empty.

"It is left like it was, as the day Ritsu had left it", she said with a sad tone.

I touched the study table and found the book.

I found a key and opened the drawer.

"Oh my how did you know?",she asked looking surprised. 

" She told me...ahh no actually.."

" I see.. She must have really liked you then"

She smiled warmly… I was taken aback.

(Because I didn't want it to leak, I kept it safe. It is the only 'me' left. So take care of it)

It was a small memory card.

Looking at it Mrs. Ludwig shed tears.

She ran and hugged me tight.

"Thank you for giving my child back to me… "

Aah stupid girl. Look how happy she is. You should have let her know at least.

(It has …)

-------------

Several years later

" Miss Youka.. are you listening?"

I removed my earphones.

"Carla. Why are you addressing me so formally? It creeps me out.."

"Ehhh? What nonsense.. Now what are you doing here wasting your time? Did you finish packing? Did you forget that our group is going to.."

"Antarctica.. I know I know. I finished packing."

"Haa then good. Charles and the crew are going to be meeting us at the airport tomorrow. You better remember that and not sleep in the lab like today or you'll miss your flight."

" Ya ya I know. I won't. I've kept it all ready."

"Oh and what's with the bouquet of daisies? You like them?"

" Hmm how do I put it? My house is full of them. They remind me of something beautiful you know."

" Hmmmmm…Soo you are visiting someone today? You have these flowers with you"

…

" sort of. Someone important"

"Ohh ok. So anyway.. huh why are you plugging back your earphones?"

"Aah I thought you were done.."

"No…"

"Carla… you are talkative today."

"Of course because I am excited.. we'll be going to Antarctica and doing research"

"Yeah .. the closest place to the world of stars.."

….

"So are you done? "

"Hmmm geez yeah. I've told what I have told. But what are you always listening to huh? Rock? Pop? Country?"

" Hmmm… the songs of a free bird…"

"Wow you sure must like birds huh? Ok I'll be leaving then. Don't forget the schedule. Bye"

"Hmm bye."

Walking on the road, I took a train. It was a long journey..

Then I waited at the bus stop. Looking outside the window of the moving bus, a familiar view.

I got down and walked up the steep mountains like I always do.

I thought I saw you, but it's just a mirage that reflected my heart.

The daisies that I planted have all bloomed. It was beautiful..

This warm feeling in my heart….

It's a beautiful sight.

Fin