Вадим Кучеренко
Life is Boundless
Summer was at its end, and after the big crimson sun sunk in the sea, the weather became autumn-like chilly. The darkened sky was abundantly dotted with glimmering stars. There were two of them, a boy and a girl between two big rocks, by the campfire lit on the seaside. They were talking, almost whispering, as if they were afraid of being heard, or shatter the loveliness of surrounding night.
– Just look at the stars, Nastya! It seems that they are dancing flamenco, – said the boy pointing at the sky, – they are just like you!
– And I think they are like pearls in a necklace, – said the girl, being silent for a while,– in the most beautiful of all necklaces that one can imagine.
– Each one of those in the necklace has its name, – the boy pointed at one of the stars. – Here’s Proxima Centaura! The closest star to the Earth, it is situated four hundred light years beyond. For you to imagine – this is two hundred seventy thousand times more than the distance between the Earth and the Sun. – He draw an invisible line with his finger. – And this is Arcturus from Boötes constellation. If you fly a spaceship at full-bore speed of light, you will reach it in thirty-four standard years.
– Now that’s really far away! – The girl shivered, as if she got cold, – and long enough!
– But Deneb from Cygnus constellation is one thousand five hundred light years far away, – the boy returned with a bit tolerant smile.
– Is there any star that is closer than those you mentioned, Dima? – Asked the girl, as if it was only up to her vis-a-vis to decide, – this, the brightest of them all, what is its name?
– Sirius, – the boy replied, followed her gaze, – It is from Canis Major constellation. The name of this star is translated as “scorching”.
Answering the girl’s tacit question, he said without hesitation:
– It is just under nine light years far away from our planet.
The girl sighed sadly. She was afraid of the distances the boy talked about in a laid-back manner, as if the stars were situated in a suburbs of their home city, being easy to reach.
He noticed her became sullen, but he had no clue why, so he took her hand and said anxiously as if he was about to unfold a secret kept hidden just for that moment:
– You know what? One day I am going to visit this star. I mean, one of the planets of the Solar System. I will fish out some pearls, and, when I come back, I will craft a necklace for you, more beautiful that the stellar one. But more importantly, you will be able to handle and wear it.
Alas, the girl wasn’t as cheerful as he expected, and objected:
– People cannot fly among the stars. The stars are too distant. Human life is not enough to reach them and return.
– I will invent an engine for a spaceship, able to overcome the Time and Space, – positively answered the boy, – and will break through this enormous distance in a couple of months or years.
Seeing her wary look, he declared: I have already started my work. Just wait: after I graduate school and university, I will work for a research and development center, and surely will success with my invention.
Being silent for a while, he asked:
– Do you believe me?
– Certainly, – she answered without hesitation. – You know, I also often dream about something before going to bed. I just lie with my eyes closed and fantasize. Sometimes things I think about come true. That’s very odd!
– And do you dream about future?
– I do indeed. Actually, a particular image of the future comes to my mind more often than not. A déjà vu! – She curtsied in an old-fashioned way. – Just imagine – I’m an actress. I am standing on a stage, a performance is over, audience is giving me a big hand, and I am bowing my thanks, I’m delighted, not about the happening, but because I know that my affectionate husband and children are waiting for me back home.
Her last words came out in almost an embarrassed whisper, but the boy perceived her. He stood up and ceremoniously bowed unto her, asking to dance, like a knight in old movies he was fond of watching.
– I dream as well, about my coming back home from space, where my wife and children await for me. – He said it when the girl put her arm onto his shoulder, and her ear was near his lips.
They waltzed around the campfire, lighted by the stars and the trembling tongues of flame.
– A wife? – Indifferently asked the girl – and what is she going to be like?
– She will be just like you.
– Similar to me?
– Absolutely.
– But how could it be? – She shrugged, – it is impossible! I am the one and the only.
– A-ha! It’s simple, – he took her game seriously and answered without any smile, – don’t you get it? You will be my wife!
The girl tried to pretend that she was surprised, but nothing came out of it – she didn’t have much acting experience in the end.
– Are you absolutely sure? – She asked archly.
– We’re going to marry one day, – he stated with decision, – and you will give birth to our son.
They were dancing in silence, accompanied by a soft wash of waves, happy and switched off from the whole world, as it can only be in one’s young love.
– And our son will play with that necklace you bring me from Proxima Centaura, – the girl whispered like if she was daydreaming.
– And dream about starscape.
– And once he is grown up…
– He and me will be flying to the stars together.
Suddenly she stopped, receded a pace and screamed:
– And you will leave me alone!
Her eyes became dimmed with tears. The boy got startled. He had no clue of what was going on and awkwardly tried to calm her down.
– There, now. Why are you crying?
– I’m crying away my grief to come,– the girl replied when her sudden despair was over, and she was able to talk. Her voice was wavering, unfolding the emotions she tried to hide. – Every time I’m in a world of hardships I just cry, and it helps me.
– A grief to come? – The boy was all at sea – What’re you talking about?
She shivered as she was nestling by the campfire in order to get warm. She talked in a low voice, staring at fire, as if she was talking to herself.
– I wish life to be free of many things. Vicious dogs. A ball that speeds into face. Nails that are spread across a road… – For a moment she became silent, then she went on, – although I think that everything that happens, happens for good. Even if something bad happens – it will be good in the end.
– I asked you about that grief of yours. In our future life, – the boy asked stubbornly, with a gloomy look on his face.
– I know that there are blackholes among the stars. And it might happen that you… and our son… – Her voice was full of fear, when she finally said it, – will never be able to come back!
The boy laughed with ease as he began to realize what was going on.
– Until you wait for us on Earth, that will never happen! – He said ensure of his words.
– It depends neither on me nor on you. – She shook her head, staring to the fire and trying not to look at the boy’s face in order not to cry again, – my nanna says that one’s fate depends only on God which is to be found in one’s soul.
– What about you?
– Me? It seems that I haven’t found my God yet. I’m not a religious kind, but if I see the crucifix, I cross, – she answered pensively after a moment of silence.
She averted her gaze to meet the boy’s eyes as if she wanted her words to sound eloquently.
– One thing I know for sure. Even before the grief to come, hovering of it is going to break me. And one day no one will be there for you.
Her eyes dimmed with tears again. The boy hugged her and patted her head like soothing a baby, and whispered:
– Don’t cry. Please.
– No, no, don’t believe me! – She suddenly exclaimed almost subvocally, as if it was not her, but her soul. – I will wait for you forever, won’t I? Just tell me that it is so, and I will laugh my fear away.