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Chapter 10: A Night Under the Stars

She gazed upon the man that was walking towards her. Could it really be him? No. Of course not. She was just imagining him like she had done several times in the past. He stopped right in front of her. Slowly, she took her hand and lightly touched his blue top. Yes, he was real. He was really there. As she stared into his piercing blue eyes, he stared into her deep amber eyes, beaming at the sight of her.

"Why did you come back?" Pocahontas broke the silence.

"I had to see you again."

She backs away from him. "And you wait until now?"

Smith's smile disappears at this. "What do you mean?"

"I waited for you. And you never came back. I had to go to England to find out you were still alive."

"Pocahontas, you have no idea how truly sorry I am. You have no idea how many nights I stayed up thinking about you. Pocahontas I lo-"

"Times are different now John."

"I understand. But what's so wrong with a friend coming to visit another friend."

"Nothing. Because it is just that. We are friends."

From the emphasis she puts on the word friends, Smith comes to the realization that she means just friends. Nothing more. With a straight face, he looks up at the woman standing in front of him. She is as radiant as ever in her native apparel. For so long he has thought about this beautiful, bold, wise, courageous woman. For so long he has missed her.

At this moment, the wind begins to blow, causing Pocahontas's black hair and Smith's golden hair to move flowingly. When it stops, Grandmother Willow appears.

"Grandmother Willow!" Smith exclaims.

"John Smith. It is so good to see you."

"It's been a while hasn't it. You look as radiant as ever."

"I knew I always liked him." Grandmother Willow jokes to Pocahontas, who smiles slightly at this.

"I was just telling Pocahontas how sorry I am for not coming back sooner."

"Well all that's important now is that you are here." Grandmother Willow replies. "Isn't that right Pocahontas?"

"Where is your crew?" Pocahontas responds.

"They didn't want to wake everyone in the village, so they're sleeping on the ship. But you know me; I just had to go wondering around. And now that I've found you, I'm glad I did."

Pocahontas looks down. "I should leave." She starts to walk away.

"Pocahontas! Wait!" Smith goes after her. Grandmother Willow lifts one of her roots to stop him.

"She needs time, my child."

Smith turns around to face Grandmother Willow. She can sense the hurt in his heart.

"John Smith, have you ever noticed how brightly the stars shine here?"

"No." Smith solemnly mutters.

"Well sit down and look." She guides him with her roots to the stump. He sits down, leaning back on his hands, and looks up at the stars.

"You know, you're right. These stars shine much brighter than the ones in England. They're absolutely stunning."

"Tell me what you see."

"Tell you what I see? What you mean? I only see sta-"

"John smith, look up at the stars and tell me what you see."

Smith focuses on the night sky. "Let's see…Well…Oh I found something!"

"Yes?"

"That group of stars over there is shaped like Meeko."

"Keep going."

"And those over there are shaped like a stalk of corn."

"It looks more like a compass to me," a voice from behind says. Smith turns around to find Pocahontas. She walks to the stump and sits beside him.

"And those look like large ships." She continues.

He turns his head to admire the soft features of her face as she looks up at the stars. Smiling, he then turns back and continues to look up. Grandmother Willow transforms back into a regular willow tree, for she knows tonight her work is done.