Shivering from the chill of the night air the little girl climbed out of bed, her feet padding onto the ground. The chill of the night seeped through her thin nightgown and yet she wasn't deterred, today was too important to be discouraged by something as simple as the cold.
Looking out the window she saw that the moon was close to being at its peak, she knew from the years past that this meant the glowing orbs would soon appear. The little girl was not sure what they were, they looked sort of like stars and yet instinct told her they weren't. They were different somehow and she felt like they were, well, more. More beautiful, more unique, just more.
The girl was sleepy for it was long past her bedtime; mother would be furious to know that she was up this late. It was thrilling and yet her little mind did not yet understand the excitement of disobeying her mother, although someday she would learn.
Taking a deep breath she opened the door of her room and began to creep down the stairs. Instinct and guilt tore through her and yet she knew that if she turned back now she would miss them. Quickly she snuck past her mother's open door, careful to avoid the places that she knew would make noise. Her mother was a very strict woman and she was also jumpy and quick to assume. If the little girl wasn't careful her mother would awaken and find her there up after dark. She would be furious and the girl would have to deal with her anger for weeks; it was not a desirable outcome.
Passing by the door the girl quickened her pace the window now in sight. Still on tiptoes she ran to the window pane stretching up as high as she could to reach the ledge. Carefully, so as to deter creaking, she pried open the window relishing in the fresh air.
The night was cool and clear, the stars that she had just begun to understand were bright and stunning in the sky, there was still no sign of the lights. The girl had only a moment of doubt, but glancing over to the calendar on the wall (just another one of her paintings from when she got bored) she confirmed that today was indeed her birthday. She smiled remembering it with joy in her tiny little heart. Mother had brought her new paints and a pretty little dress, she had even made her hazelnut soup for dinner.
Suddenly a lazy little light drifted up through her field of view cutting off her thoughts. The girl's breath hitched; it was starting. Soon there were hundreds of other lights swirling and drifting up through the air far away in the distance. Stretching out her hand the little girl imagined she could touch the far away lights, even though she knew it was impossible. It was just a dream, and she knew; dreams never came true.
