Under the heat of the afternoon sun, there was a desolate spot where a young woman sat.
The dirt here was fresh and smelled like spring, a rarity in a paved vacation town. The quiet here allowed her to think, also a rarity in the hustle and bustle, oil and grime. Pushed in between the high mountains, Bela Vistal nestled nowhere particular.
Bela Vistal always represented a strange juxtaposition of strain and relaxation. There was a bizarre mix of tourism, locals, and the militant way of life. Even the trek to her secret spot was spent dodging the gaze of troopers. It was almost like entering behind enemy lines. The analogy wasn't so far-fetched. Someone was always watching. In reality, the woman sought privacy in the warm shade of green. The wind here was always so sweet, enough to make her want to swallow it whole and kiss it.
Koreena Kepler held back a sigh.
Other than tourism, Bela Vistal boasted their elitist specialty in piloting and engineering. Every year, Bela Vistal's sun soaking pilots crossed their limits to the envelope of engineering. It was an era of advancement for the Corellians. Engineering and tinkering was the only worthwhile skill that pleased the Imperials, pleased the tourists, paid bills, made life longer, but mostly paid the bills.
Hot nights came as predicted, bringing flowers of all smells and colors. Soon enough, Corellians would celebrate the Summer Solstice. The death and rebirth of the sun and the endless cycles of life found in the universe. This was the only time of year that Corellians brought their attention to the arts and music. When the nighttime came, Corellian youths would dance on their heels and sweat. Flowers were strung between buildings, making curtains and waving in the wind. Because Corellians felt anonymous in such an immense crowd and celebration, they felt safe throwing away their stubborn values for one night. Maybe to steal a kiss or to find a summertime lover. It was also considered incredibly lucky to have a wedding during the Solstice. As tradition, Corellian brides would wear dark, jade green wedding gowns.
Life returned to normal after the Solstice. The days that came afterwards were hot and long. Life was routine and the smell of fluids while working and sweating in the sun. Life was fixing and renovating something that could be easily adjusted with tools and the right bolts. This was the mechanical day to day, the life of a pilot.
The ambiance of the afternoon eventually tired her snowballing mind. She sat up with an absent look, watching the tops of trees sway. Koreena was looking forward to this year's Solstice.
Was it wrong to want to feel good again?
A stomach growl distracted her from one thousand woes. Back home, a glass of ale and a bowl of stew fruit waited and cooled. Koreena smiled at a favorite childhood thought, when her mother would warn about Lord Nyax, a popular tale to keep the young ones in line. "Lord Nyax has been terrifying the Valley in the East, so if you don't eat your stew fruit..."
You're gonna get it, kid.
...
After dinner, Koreena nursed her bottle of ale in bed, where she found the darkness to be more comforting than bright lights and distractions. The dark was easy on her eyes and tired soul. After a long day, she just wanted to put herself out for good. Starlight filtered into her room, little dots winking purposefully.
The three moons were suspended blue marbles, slowly making their way across the dark canvas. On nights like this, her bedroom walls glowed like the shallow depths of an ocean.
Koreena ignored their beauty tonight. They would only make her succumb to her wanderlust. Sometimes, she imagined what it was like to be a space traveler. A star sailor. But, her brain couldn't encompass everything. Up there, in that black, there was no direction or right way or wrong way. Just endless, black sea. Wild space. She just didn't want to think about it with stewfruit digesting.
In reality, another day of repetition was coming. Koreena squeezed her pillow and have it a good throw, as if she was playing sphere toss at the dive bar. She could have made a hole in one with that kind of throw.
Everything felt so absurd when she got up to retrieve her pillow. She took another swig of ale, letting the taste saturate her lips.
Just for once, Koreena wouldn't mind being able to sleep in.
She fantasized about the light of the sun eventually waking her from the dreamworld. It would feel good just to be lazy. Tomorrow was another day, another routine to starve her heart.
Koreena fell back into bed, apologizing to her pillow. She would save her crying for another day.