The Little Star
A heart is what happens when a yes fills the space of possibility,
And the universe reaches out to gather it into her vastness.
She gives it shape and form so it can express itself through her;
She gives us bodies so we can learn how to love
Once upon a time, a year, a thousand years or a turn of a galaxy ago, a new star was born. There was a coming together of light, a blending of wishes and a new light emerged from the tumbling gases. The star was small when it was born and the universe seemed so huge and the little star looked around in wonderment at its new home.
> It is beautiful, it thought,
>so many stars and they are all so bright and happy. They create such patterns and they play together so happily. I am glad I am here, I am happy I came.
The little star explored its world, watching galaxies turn and planets grow and it grew a little bit brighter with each new discovery.
One day a new creature appeared, it was grey and there was a darkness surrounding it that the little star did not like but, not wanting to be rude, the little star addressed it politely
>Good day it said
The shadow came closer,
> You are very bright and seem very happy, said
Why thank you, said the little star smiling
The shadow narrowed its eyes;
>Do you think that that is why the other stars don’t want to play with you? Because you are taking up so much space? You are so self absorbed.
The little star felt like it had been slapped,
>What? You think they don’t want to play with me? That’s not true
The shadow shrugged,
>ok, it said,
>I just thought I would say something to help you.
The little star was hurt by what the shadow said and said to itself
>that’s not true, they do want to play with me,
But then it thought,
>What if it is true? What if I am too bright and taking up too much space and the other stars don’t like me but just don’t want to say anything?
The star grew more doubtful and its light faltered and the shadow came back to whisper more ‘advice’ in its ear.
Soon more shadows came to take its light and feed off its fear and doubt.
They whispered in its ear
> You are not as good as those other stars, you will never shine as brightly as them, you are a dud, a freak, an accident, why did you think you could ever be born as a star?
Or they whispered
>The other stars don’t want to play with you, they don’t like you?
Or,
>You will never have friends, you will be alone all your life.
The little star listened to them and after a while began to think they were right and its light became dimmer and dimmer.
One day, one year, or one turn of a galaxy later a very old star decided to help. This star was bright and shining and had watched the little star for a while and saw the shadows and what they were doing. It saw that the little star had almost given up.
The big star went to the little star and chased away the shadows and took the little star into its own calm steady light.
>You are beautiful, it said to the little star and the little star looked at the big star in wonderment.
>But you are so much brighter and better at being a star than I am, said the little star to the big star
The old star shook its head and a thousand sparks of light rained down around the little star. The shadows cowered nearby wanting to feed but they couldn’t come near the big stars light
>That is the shadows talking, said the old star
>Now come, I want to show you something
The big star took the little star to a place in space far away where there were no stars and only a black hole lived. The black hole was deep and space around it was empty and cold and the little star was afraid and stayed very close to the big star.
>You are safe with me, said the big star >But if you came here on your own it would swallow you up as it has swallowed everything around it
No light came out of the black hole, only fear and anger and a terrible hunger. The little star stared at it in disbelief.
>It would swallow the entire universe and still be hungry, said the big star
>How horrible to be like that, said the little star and felt sad for the black hole. >Can you not help it?
The big star shook its head.
> It would not want me to, it has made its choice and only it can help itself
>Choice? Said the little star in puzzlement
>Yes, said the big star and smiled down at the little star >Now I have something else to show you,
The big star gathered the little star into its light again and they traveled away from the coldness of the black hole towards another part of the galaxy where there were many stars. The little star felt safe and warm in the arms of the big star and wished that the journey would never end.
The big star stopped beside a group of stars who were playing together. They were young stars and they shouted and laughed as they played.
The little star felt shy to see them, suddenly remembering the words of the shadows and tried to hide behind the big star but then one of the young stars saw the little star trying to hide and, laughing, called to the others. They pulled the little star out to join them
>You are beautiful, they cried
>Why haven’t you come to play with us before? They asked and the little star felt so happy it thought its heart might burst
The little star played with them for hours until it was too tired and then it went back to the big star.
>They are so happy, said the little star to the big star, >I wish I could be like that.
The big star picked the little star up and, as it slept, carried it back home
When they returned the big star said
>Now, you have a choice. You can either be the black hole full of fear and anger or you can be like the stars you played with today, happy and bright and unafraid, there is no middle path for you
The little star nodded, wanting to believe, but at the same time not wanting to be left alone
>But the shadows, asked the little star quietly
>The shadows are part of you and they will make you into the black hole if you listen to them. You must stop listening to them, you must fight them, answered the big star
The little star looked at the shadows waiting in the darkness for the big star to leave and felt afraid.
>I am here if you want help, said the big star >I will be watching you, and you made new friends today you can go and play with them every day you wish or if you feel lonely go see them or come see me
The little star felt better, it was not alone, and with a brave smile said
>I can do it,
>Good luck, said the big star >and don’t forget, don’t listen to the shadows for even a second, they will do their best to keep you small, they are afraid too, afraid you will grow strong and shine and they won’t have their food
>Thank you, said the little star
And the big star went back home.
A year later, a century later, or a whole turn of a galaxy later, a child was holding onto her mother’s hand and looking up at the stars. She pointed up to the sky and she said
>What is that beautiful star called? It looks like it is dancing?
The mother smiled and said
>That is a new star and it shines brighter with every year
>I would like to shine like that star, the little girl said.
The mother picked her child up and hugged her
>We are all stars and we can all shine as brightly as that star. We are all stars, you are a star.
>Am I? Asked the little girl
>Yes, said her mother
Up in the sky the little star, who was no longer little but strong and bright, saw the little girl and her mother and heard their words and shone especially brightly for the little girl.
