• Between the Earth and the stars, the sun reaches down to kiss the world with its hand; its hands are long, extending from beyond the horizon to the kingdom of the Heavens. And for a long time, the Earth, the sun, the stars, and the moon have been in harmony, creating a song of many voices that one would call nature.

    It started with Elaine, her name meaning “light”. Her wisdom and unceasing hope that shone within her illuminated all others in the kingdom. Her golden hair was beautiful, and her eyes were fiery.

    She and her husband were best friends and soul mates. He was a generous man, giving and never taking from people. He provided well for his wife, and he never complained, although he was as fragile as a leaf blowing in the unyielding wind. He had the perfect musculature, but his appearance was also lanky. His green eyes were wild and peaceful, and his auburn hair glowed in the light.

    They gave birth to a baby daughter, whom which they called Abigail. Abigail grew up to be breathtaking and the most beautiful woman in the kingdom. Her hair was pale and seemed to be always shimmering. She glowed from her parents nurturing, her mother’s wisdom and brightness entwined with her father’s selflessness creating an exquisite being: her.

    Elaine, her husband, and Abigail were a small but happy family. They grew very close and their souls started to link, the threads of love binding them together. Abigail added joy and happiness to their blissful lives, and the three were always with each other.

    But fate thought different.

    The other kingdom near distant stars, you see, became jealous of the family’s close and unbreakable relationship. They called the forces of the universe- the wind, the nebula, and inertia- commanding them to compulsorily tear the three hearts apart.

    And so Elaine, her husband, and Abby were broken up. However, what the other kingdoms did not comprehend and could not even begin to know was that their souls were still together, even though their bodies were not.

    The three of them asked their comrades, the planets, to help them, as they made their souls immortal. Because they were kind beings, the planets happily obliged.

    And so the bright sun, the generous Earth, and their child the moon were born. And so Elaine’s family lived on, the god and goddesses of the sun, Earth, and moon.

    They all lived in the same kingdom, of course, but they were unable to physically be near each other. Though, they didn’t care, for they had said that, for as long as the sun, the Earth, and the moon should live, they would be together.

    But the funny thing about this is that, like most things, sadly, they can’t be perfectly happy. There had to be an obstacle.

    Abigail, whose soul was now the moon, began to long for a companion, a friend. Like any other young adult, she thought that no one understood her. Her parents tried telling her that it was alright, and that they were her friends.

    But, no, she had said. She wanted someone her age for a companion.

    Then Kerri came along. She was an orphaned meteor, who had been thrown out of orbit by her cruel peers.

    Deliberately, when Elaine saw that there was a child without a home, she let Kerri be a part of Abby’s life, Abby’s soul.

    Kerri cannot be seen, but she is there, standing back-to-back with Abigail. She is the unseen side of the moon. And at that time, there were no phases for the moon. Abby was the one seen at all times, and Kerri remained a mystery to humans.

    The two, like any other sister, were best friends and each others’ confident. They rarely had arguments, and if they did, they had solved it quite quickly.

    The time came when Abigail and Kerri became interested in the opposite sex. No, Abigail was interested, while Kerri remained indifferent.

    ***

    Abigail’s eyes glazed around, at the universe that would be there for the rest of her life. Yes, stars were immortal, but after awhile, they were just things, weren’t they? Except her mother.

    Abigail smiled. Her mother was a life-giver. Pride burst from every particle of her soul.

    From her tower in the kingdom in the clouds, she couldn’t see her parents. Oh, how she missed them. Sighing, she climbed up to the moon.

    She kneeled on the rocky surface, leaning over, her eyes raking the space in front of her for any movement.

    A grin appeared on her delicate face. Earth was spinning slowly, really, but to a goddess’s eyes, it was moving quite quickly. For you see, a god’s eyes were much more sensitive than a human’s. From the moon, eighteen-year-old Abby could see every tree on the Earth as a singular being, and if she focused, she could see each and every human’s movement. How do you think the gods and goddesses watch over us and protect us?

    It was then that she caught sight of a gorgeous man. His hair was a chocolate brown, his eyes were troubled and blue, but she could tell that his normal expression was languid.

    What troubles him? She thought.

    Her soul couldn’t travel to Earth, but her body could. Determined, she left the moon’s surface and lay on a cloud. Holding onto it, she pleaded, “Please, oh dear soul, please, bring me to Earth.”

    The cloud obeyed, for they were merely souls of the people who wished to still find meaning after their lives. They still wanted to find a goal.

    Particle by particle, her body sparkled, once it touched the earth. The skin on her body shimmered, a beautiful silver color, and she climbed into shadow, disappearing for the human eyes.

    She followed the calls of the man’s crying heart, and soon found him.

    He sat in a meadow, his back leaning against the trunk of a great oak. His knees were propped up, and his arms wrapped around his legs. His head was buried in his arms, shoulders quivering erratically.

    He’s crying, Abigail realized.

    Unthinkingly, she emerged out of the shadows of the woods and into the sun- kissed field. She hesitated before walking over to his flawless figure.

    He didn’t seem to notice anything, what with his head hidden in the nest of his arms. Abigail wanted to make him happy. She wanted to be his happiness. She had to be. Her heart started to palpitate uncontrollably in her chest, the beating echoing in her mind, the sound throbbing through her consciousness.

    Something unidentifiable aroused within her, and she felt as though she had awoken from a purgatory, a long sleep that had been her life before she’d met this human.

    Shivers ran up and down her arm, and a roll of lightheadedness swam over her.

    What’s happening to me? She thought, freezing in place.

    Her hand reached out unconsciously, wanting to touch the man.

    Trembling, her hand moved forward, and she made contact with his arm.

    She flinched, her eyes shutting closed.

    What if he saw me? What would I say? Opening her eyes, slowly, she gave a sigh of relief as she saw that the man sat unmoving still.

    Gradually, she placed her palm on his elbow. His head flew up from the cave of his arms and his blue eyes met hers.

    He didn’t breathe.

    She didn’t breathe.

    “Why are you crying?” She asked, shocked by her sudden ability to speak.

    He was speechless, gazing up at the angel in front of him. Nothing was what he knew, except that she was more than human. She was too divine to be anything close to what he was.

    Her hair was unlike anything he’d ever laid eyes on; it was a light color, almost silver, but not as garish, almost gold but not as blinding. Her lips were full and the color of the light hue of a peach rose, and her cheeks were blushed scarlet. The night sky was embedded into her eyes, making them a deep blue, and yet they were bright as stars.

    And her voice. It was misty but clear, outstandingly high pitched, but not chilling, like chimes, but lighter.

    “My love…she…died,” He said, his voice filled with self-loathing.

    “It’s not your fault,” She whispered.

    He stiffened.

    How did she know what he was thinking?

    “Who are you?” He asked, his figure stiff, though he wasn’t scared. Somehow, he felt as if it was impossible to be scared with her with him. Rather, it was impossible to be scare of her.

    She didn’t want to say she was a goddess, for she feared that he would treat her differently if she did.

    “My name is Abigail,” She said.

    “But you are not human,” He said confidently.

    She gasped inwardly. How…?

    “No,” She said, her eyes sad, and she looked at the patch of grass beneath her feet. “I’m not…” And then her eyes lifted up to meet his once more. “But I-”

    She blushed at the thought of her being so impulsive with her words.

    He waited, his eyes patient.

    “But me being a goddess doesn’t take away my ability to love someone…” She said, eyes locked on him, waiting for his reaction. His jaw tightened. “Even a human,” She added.

    They sat there, across from one another on the grass, staring at each other, her face composed while his was pending.

    “I don’t care if I don’t receive your love, although it’d make me happy,” She continued, unashamed. “But your happiness is the most important thing to me now.”

    He looked at her, frozen, eyes blank, astounded, incredulous.

    “I-I still love someone else, I’m sorry,” He apologized after a long silence.

    Inside, she flinched, but her outer expression was quickly collected.

    “So it is,” She muttered, standing up.

    He followed suit and said, “Please, give me some time and I may grow to love you. I think I do, but I need time to heal my current wounds.”

    She nodded, smiling slightly.

    “Andrew,” She said.

    He was surprised, but it was to be expected. He knew she was a goddess, so of course she’d know his name.

    “Andrew, I’ll wait for you,” She promised, eyes intense. “But for now, I’ll give you a gift.

    “I know your wishes, and one of them is to have the power to see things before they happen, so you can prevent another incident from happening, like that of your love,” She announced. “So, I shall give you the gift of Sight.”

    She took his hand and kissed it gently before ascending back up to the heavens, leaving him in awe on Earth.

    When she left his field of vision, he felt something warm radiate from the spot on his hand by which she had kissed. The warmth was delightful, and it spread through his body. And when it was over, he had the power to see things before they could happen.

    ***

    Up in the kingdom of the Heavens, Abigail had returned and told the tale to her sister, Kerri.

    Kerri loved the stories Abigail told her, and after each one, she would compliment on how good Abigail’s telling skills were. Kerri would gush on and on to her sister as if she were a celebrity.

    But this time it was different.

    “Abigail, you must leave humans the way they are!” She scolded.

    Her sister cringed at her whipping tone.

    “But, Kerri, I wanted to return the joy that he had lost,” She explained.

    Kerri sighed sharply. “No, Abigail, you don’t understand! You must leave things to unfold as they may, and you mustn’t interfere with destiny. The gods chose it to be the way it is. So it is, and so it shall be.”

    “But…why?” She shook her head, uncomprehending. “Why? If you can change it for the better, why shouldn’t you?”

    Kerri scoffed, a sound by which Abigail had never heard from her sister before. “Because, Abigail,” She spat, “Some people are meant to be happy and some aren’t.”

    “But everyone deserves to be happy!” Abby wailed, her arms flying furiously.

    She stood up and left her sister in her room to rage all she’d like.

    And rage Kerri did. When Abigail left, Kerri stomped to the window and peered across to Earth.

    Catching sight of the boy whom Abigail had described, she fumed.

    That hateful wench of a boy! How dare he take my sister from me! I’m losing her, my best friend, because a man who spends his time wallowing in self-pity. Kerri glared at Andrew’s form on Earth. Well, then, I’ll just have to take him away, don’t I? If he’s causing my sister so much trouble, then why not get rid of the trouble?

    ***

    Andrew paced around the meadow. He couldn’t get Abigail out of his head. Her beauty, her voice, her piercing eyes, her kindness, her selflessness, the way she gave joy to those around her. She was…perfect.

    He gaped up at the sky, the endless blue swirling above him. He had to tell Abigail that he loved her, and soon. He would, he knew it. He had seen himself on his way to tell her.

    ***

    Abigail left to visit the market, leaving Kerri scheming in her tower. Staring out the window, she had already planned the attack. But when should she do it?

    She sneered. Why not now? Abigail wasn’t there, and it was nighttime, and the bustling city would be sleeping sooner or later.

    That’s when Kerri caught sight of a human, climbing the stairway to the kingdom. He had luscious chestnut hair and blazing blue eyes.

    Could this be Andrew?

    And with a flood of pride, Kerri smirked. It had to be.

    Without pausing, she grabbed her bow and arrow and snuck out of her tower to get a better view of him.

    A better aim…

    But, no. What if she missed? What if she had only one chance to fire the arrow, and she missed?

    Oh, but she had servants. Unlike Abigail, who had freed her slaves, Kerri still kept hers.

    When your a goddess, why shouldn’t you have people serving you? Obeying your every whim?

    She called upon her soldiers, and they readied their bows at the still ascending Andrew.

    And when he reached a clearing, they aimed. When he stopped in his tracks, reaching the top of the stairs, they fired.

    And with a shriek that spread through the night sky, breaking the stirring silence, he fell.
    He was done.
    But that scream had not come from him. It had come from a figure that was now at his side. Abigail.

    And so the war started between the two sides of the moon. You can still see this war being fought if you look at the moon. The two sides pull the light, fighting endless battles, and so we call it the phases of the moon.