“Glitter, glitter, burning shimmer…”
Veeyel had been staring at the sky for hours. He had watched the sun set and now he was watching the faint arms of the local galaxy drift into view. They were always there, but only here, in the middle of nowhere, would he be able to get a better look at them. There were no artificial lights for miles around. The closest, civilized town was at least twenty kilometres away. His home, the little tree house, was two kilometres away.
“Distant hums, distant suns…”
The water around Veeyel was warm. Surprisingly warm, considering he was lying in a shallow pool on top of a mountain. But it had been hot and sunny all day. Maybe that was why. Either way, he had calmly remained there. Not completely out of choice. By the edge of the pool was his leg brace and his bag of belongings, filled with food, batteries and his daily medication. He had been so engrossed in the library that he had forgotten to charge the very machine that allowed him to walk.
“Not quite infinity, but more than one…”
Occasionally, a flash of light would streak across the sky. Veeyel was never sure what caused them. It could have been a shooting star, a meteor burning up in the thick, Portalian atmosphere. But it was more likely just a bit of space junk. There was a lot of crap floating in orbit. The remains of satellites and the wreckage of crashes. Could have been a passing ship as well, but few flew over this path.
“Short red burns, long blue burns. They all burn bright…”
Still, at least it was quiet up here. Quieter than anywhere else. That was what Veeyel wanted. A moment to forget that he had a lot of problems he needed to deal with. All he wanted to do was exist and talk to himself.
“Never forever. On and on but not forever…”
Being out here had reminded Veeyel of a song he heard. When he was younger. When everything was falling down. No one expected a rogue Vohran nest to attack Thre-Sypria. He did what he had to do. Not everyone made it. He did his best.
“Not like love. Not like family. They burn brighter…”
The stars, the starry sky. The brightness in the darkness. That was what reminded him of these words. Search and rescue was always the hardest job. As someone with experience in first aid and medical work, that was his duty. Not everyone could have been saved.
“No matter where I am. No matter where you are…”
The buildings in the centre district were the worst. Older. Less safe. Too many Rethans. He’d heard them before he’d seen them. Heard her whispers. Heard her whimpering. Veeyel had to go in. He had to help them.
“One day, the stars will all stop. The glitter fades…”
With every step he took, he could feel that building shake. The foundations were damaged, and he didn’t dare try and hold it up with his mind. He was exhausted and one bad move could have destroyed the whole structure.
“Life fades. Eventually time fades too…”
They had taken shelter in the basement. The roof had caved in. They were trapped. She was trapped more though. Pinned down. Legs crushed. Back broken.
“My love for you though, that does not fade…”
By her side were two kids. Neither of them old enough for school. Three, maybe four years old? Veeyel wasn’t sure. He never found out.
“Go with him, little ones… Follow the silver one…”
They’d hesitated. They were scared. Veeyel knew he couldn’t save her.
“I will follow you, kids… I will always love you…”
He’d led them to safety. Just in time. The building collapsed, with her inside. He didn’t say a single word as he carried those kids to the evacuation area.
“My love will burn longer than any star…”
Veeyel blinked, coming to his senses as his hand hit the edge of the pool. He felt… haunted. That memory had never properly faded away. Despite everything that had happened to him in his over sixty years of consciousness, that moment still messed with him.
Not because she was right. But because she was wrong.
Her love faded the moment she died. Those kids probably grew up not really knowing any better. This universe was cruel and harsh and uncaring.
Yet somehow people still managed to have love.
A beep distracted Veeyel. His leg brace was done charging. A second, louder beep told him it was time to take his next set of medication.
With a sigh, Veeyel dragged himself out of the shallow pool. He had things to do, problems to solve. He could stare at the sky and relive his haunted memories some other time.