THE JUMP: a short story
“There she is again!” I excitedly looked and jumped for glee as I watched the moon with that same warmth in my heart. She stands proud and stark in that dark, grayish sky, accompanied by a handful of stars, mostly constellations. In that peaceful May evening, I promised myself to confess my heart to the love of my life.
“Hey there!” I said, swaying my whole body in excitement as I saw her glance at me (just a glance, but I didn’t mind!)
She is so beautiful, so radiant, so, ah, I lost words to describe her beauty. I don’t know, but somehow, I just want to be with her for all time. It’s just a pity that sometimes, she’s present, other times she’s not. But I’m aware she’s just there, and I’m always looking forward to her next appearance.
“I’m here again!” I called out once more, as I noticed her chatting with her fellow celestial bodies.
Can I ever persuade her to talk to me? What will she say? How will she react with what I am going to tell her?
“Excuse me, may I have a precious moment with you, Princess of the Night?” I finally took the courage to say.
Oh! She’s looking at me now! I can’t help but feel my heart leaping with joy!
“Yes? What can I do for you?” Her voice was sweet, as though singing when she answered me. Music, music it is to my ears. I even thought I could die at that very moment.
“I just have one important question to make…. ” I was afraid I stammered, but she didn’t seem to notice.
“Alright, you may go on. You have all evening.”
So I inhaled deep… This is it!, I said. “Uhm, do you think that if someone like me falls in love with someone like you, that is possible?”
Silence.
Have I angered her?
After like eternity, she answered me with words I think I won’t forget until the day I die.
“You know, there’s nothing impossible with our Maker. But as it is, can you come up here to my place and join me for the rest of your life? It is not what you think it is.”
“Yes, of course I can!” I bravely answered, as I gathered my strength to jump as high as I can. I bent my knees, and then I jumped with all my might. My hands are reaching up, and I felt like flying in the air. It felt good! But I didn’t see awe in her eyes, only sadness – deep, pitiful sadness.
Then I felt myself going down, down… down.
Bang!
I felt pain in my whole body, and I moaned for a really long, long time.
“I’m sorry,” I heard her say, “but I am for heaven, and you are for earth. And to go beyond that is not just in our capacity.”
And tears started falling from my eyes, as I moaned from more pain, first from my wounded body, then to my bleeding heart. She didn’t turn her eyes again to me.
I only loved, I whispered to myself, and should it hurt this bad? But what else can I do? I am just a mere dog barking for the moon.
I then felt my strength losing, and somehow, I lost my will to live. But just when I was about to give up, I heard a faint voice calling out to me, “Oh, there you are! And you’re bleeding! Come let me take you home and treat your wounds.” Then I felt strong, warm hands lifting me to his shoulders. I know whose voice and hands they are.
With what little strength left of me, I managed to hear my owner say after a series of running footsteps, “Daddy, I just found my pet dog Blackie in the forest, and he’s wounded!”
I didn’t hear anything more for I was so weak. But I know I’m going to be alright.
(L.C.A. 20April2010)
“Hey there!” I said, swaying my whole body in excitement as I saw her glance at me (just a glance, but I didn’t mind!)
She is so beautiful, so radiant, so, ah, I lost words to describe her beauty. I don’t know, but somehow, I just want to be with her for all time. It’s just a pity that sometimes, she’s present, other times she’s not. But I’m aware she’s just there, and I’m always looking forward to her next appearance.
“I’m here again!” I called out once more, as I noticed her chatting with her fellow celestial bodies.
Can I ever persuade her to talk to me? What will she say? How will she react with what I am going to tell her?
“Excuse me, may I have a precious moment with you, Princess of the Night?” I finally took the courage to say.
Oh! She’s looking at me now! I can’t help but feel my heart leaping with joy!
“Yes? What can I do for you?” Her voice was sweet, as though singing when she answered me. Music, music it is to my ears. I even thought I could die at that very moment.
“I just have one important question to make…. ” I was afraid I stammered, but she didn’t seem to notice.
“Alright, you may go on. You have all evening.”
So I inhaled deep… This is it!, I said. “Uhm, do you think that if someone like me falls in love with someone like you, that is possible?”
Silence.
Have I angered her?
After like eternity, she answered me with words I think I won’t forget until the day I die.
“You know, there’s nothing impossible with our Maker. But as it is, can you come up here to my place and join me for the rest of your life? It is not what you think it is.”
“Yes, of course I can!” I bravely answered, as I gathered my strength to jump as high as I can. I bent my knees, and then I jumped with all my might. My hands are reaching up, and I felt like flying in the air. It felt good! But I didn’t see awe in her eyes, only sadness – deep, pitiful sadness.
Then I felt myself going down, down… down.
Bang!
I felt pain in my whole body, and I moaned for a really long, long time.
“I’m sorry,” I heard her say, “but I am for heaven, and you are for earth. And to go beyond that is not just in our capacity.”
And tears started falling from my eyes, as I moaned from more pain, first from my wounded body, then to my bleeding heart. She didn’t turn her eyes again to me.
I only loved, I whispered to myself, and should it hurt this bad? But what else can I do? I am just a mere dog barking for the moon.
I then felt my strength losing, and somehow, I lost my will to live. But just when I was about to give up, I heard a faint voice calling out to me, “Oh, there you are! And you’re bleeding! Come let me take you home and treat your wounds.” Then I felt strong, warm hands lifting me to his shoulders. I know whose voice and hands they are.
With what little strength left of me, I managed to hear my owner say after a series of running footsteps, “Daddy, I just found my pet dog Blackie in the forest, and he’s wounded!”
I didn’t hear anything more for I was so weak. But I know I’m going to be alright.
(L.C.A. 20April2010)
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