Day 8: Shooting Stars

Overcoming Absolution

Sometimes, Elka's visions weren't all bad. On rare occasions, when her eyes were rolling into the back of her head and her body writhed, her foresight blessed her with something pleasant. She experienced miserable sensations far too often, so when she witnessed anything beautiful, she was often struck with the impacts of her heart swelling and eyes welling with tears.

The vision happened months ago. In winter, she had been jarred awake. Translucent eyelids opened to both her bedroom and the off-limit forest of Whispering Rock, experiencing a dazzling performance. (Her mother might have been disappointed when her vision produced anything other than someone's abject despair, but she still smiled when Elka discussed it at the breakfast table.)

Tonight was when the vision would transpire. Elka strolled through the woods, making sure to stay on the marked path. The cougars, growling beasts that they were, immediately seized upon any camper foolish enough to take a shortcut. She prepared herself, however, her eyes flitting in every direction. The last thing she wanted was another surprise attack from that monstrous lungfish.

And yet, the vision promised her protection. She abided by the footsteps her future self left behind. She marched toward the GPCs, fireflies and lampposts guiding her journey. She quickly peered over her shoulder, spotting no one except for a cougar looming beyond the fence. It bared its fangs, back hunching, but Elka scowled and stormed toward the centermost GPC, trusting her vision. It would not harm her if she did not approach. (The same went for the mosquitoes, as she had applied a dizzying amount of bug spray that left fumes in the girls' cabin.)

Running her fingers through her full, blonde locks, Elka looked to the night sky. Swathes of darkness stretched across the horizon as if painted. Only a few stars twinkled. They didn't seem real. It was as if someone had poked through the atmosphere with a sharp pin.

"Huh? Elka?"

But hearing that weepy voice, she jumped, biting down on her lip. She swallowed back a short shriek, hoping to save her dignity. Jerking around, she furrowed her brow at none other than Crystal, who dragged her arm across her eyes.

"Oh," she breathed out, relaxing her shoulders, "hi, Crystal. You scared me."

"I-I'm sorry, so, sorry!" Her apology rocketed out of her. Crystal shivered, her nostrils flaring as she sniffled. "Seriously, I am super sorry!"

Elka quickly shook her head, raising her hands. "No, no, shush! It's okay. You don't have to, um, shout like that. You might upset that cougar eyeing us right now, and I don't want to be eaten alive."

Crystal nodded, pursing her lips. They stood in silence, an awkward tension washing over them. Elka rubbed her fingertips together, perplexed.

"Um, why are you here?" Crystal asked, digging in her heels. Even in the dim lighting, Elka saw her sweat. "I was - I was, uh, taking a walk. Nothing strange about it. Hee hee!"

It was such a blatant fib that Elka almost laughed. But she couldn't, not to Crystal. She had always been considerate and obliging, if far too exuberant. She'd always listen if Elka needed a shoulder to cry on or complain about her tumultuous relationship with Nils. Not once did Crystal make anything about herself.

"Well, I foresaw an event that…didn't include you." Elka shrugged, hoping to suppress her astonishment. "It's kind of a big deal. The Doom family always gets their visions right."

Crystal gasped, motioning to go. "Should I leave? It'll be right if I do, I think."

"It's fine. You can stay," came her automatic reply.

"Uh, will something happen?"

Elka checked her wristwatch. "Right now in fact. Look up."

Crystal did as she was told. Elka gazed to the westward sky. It was going to start precisely when the hour hand hit one, and as anticipated, it arrived on time. She heard Crystal gasp, almost choking on it, and Elka couldn't help but smirk.

The light show began. At first, stray comets streaked through the darkness. Then, they doubled. Blazing brilliantly white, the meteor shower soared overhead. The forest was brightened instantly, the shades of green leaves and brown trees appearing as they would during the day.

Elka folded her hands underneath her chin. Witnessing even a single shooting star meant she needed to make a wish. It was a myth as ancient as the Dooms. Still, she closed her eyes and thought of a single desire, for her happiness to persevere, even if her foresight claimed otherwise, even if her spirit remained trampled.

What was a stunning exhibition lasted only minutes. The comets petered out without fanfare. It wasn't like a fireworks display with a grand finale, and it reminded Elka of her father's car when the engine sputtered during their trip weekend driving trips around town. As one final comet trickled through the darkness, Elka released the breath she had been holding, her heart skipping beats. The vision had passed, calm, marvelous, and subdued.

Crystal seized Elka's hands, screeching, "That was the most gorgeous thing I've seen in my fucking life!"

The nesting birds suddenly took flight. Leaves and branches rustled. The cougar growled, stalking the circumference of the fenced GPC but did not attack. Still, it watched them hungrily as Crystal's voice reverberated throughout the woods, and Elka was stunned into silence.

Crystal continued, blissfully unaware. "Man, I came out here for a good cry, but O-M-G, I'm so glad I stayed here to sob my eyes out! I never would've hung around long enough to see it without you, Elka! Thank you!"

An inelegant, unintelligent fumble of a response spilled out of Elka. She stuttered, an honest-to-God stammer ill-fitting of her reputation. Crystal's earnest expressions soothed her, despite her shrillness. It was beyond her vision, an extreme distortion of what should've happened, but Elka still managed an uneven smile. She accepted Crystal's praise, both deserved and undeserved. Elka just happened to be in the right place at the right time and convinced Crystal to stay against her vision.

Mikhail had once said that Crystal was a sweet girl, a sad girl. Elka agreed, to a degree. Crystal was an honest soul and a terrible liar. She had once asked Elka if anyone would mourn her and Clem if they weren't around next summer, the memory like a thumbtack poking her skin. And as Crystal tried departing, Elka finally gave her response to that question.

"You asked me once if anyone would miss you if you were gone."

Crystal froze mid-step.

"I would."

Crystal stared at her. A stray shooting star shot overhead toward the camp. Drawing in a shaky breath, Crystal smiled so hard the corners of her eyes creased. She murmured her gratitude, head bowing as if she couldn't maintain eye contact, and Elka wished her brain, as miserable as it could be, would provide Crystal a tender, kind vision.

"Ladies?"

Instantly, Elka's dignity collapsed.

Her head snapped to the GPC entrance. Approaching them was her fated one. Her foresight promised they would be together, hand-in-hand. Nils confidently strolled toward them, glancing between the girls, before letting a toothy grin cross his face, the same one he'd wear at their wedding.

"Elka, Crystal, what's with this secret rendezvous? Mind if I make it a throuple?" he asked, tossing his hands out.

Like a flipped switch, Elka changed on a dime. She gasped, grasping her chest. All the times she insulted him for his infidelity surged forth in a flurry of regrets. For her dramatics, her reactions were pure.

She hurried toward Nils and threw her arms around his neck, almost knocking him over. "Oh, Nils! I didn't foresee this at all. Did you come out here after realizing I wasn't safe in my bunk, worried beyond all belief? Did you come for me?"

As she released him, Nils paused, his smile frozen. "Uh, n-I mean, yeah! Yeah. Totally. When you weren't around, babe, I got scared and needed to see if you were chill."

She swooned, the back of her hand resting daintily on her forehead. "How could I have ever doubted you, Nils? You do care. You always did."

"Sure do. C'mon, babe, let's take the action elsewhere." He gestured at Crystal. "Wanna come with, Crystal? The throuple offer is still open."

Elka gasped and smacked his shoulder. "Pig! Leave Crystal out of your dirty thoughts." She grinned automatically at her. "I am so sorry, Crystal, but I have to go. True love exists for those who wait, and I have the patience of a saint."

Crystal bobbed her head and waved as she took off down the path. "Totally! Sure thing! Good night, pals!"

And when Crystal scampered off, Elka clung to Nils' arm. She hoped as they walked that her foresight would be proven once again as a liar. Even if fate had sunk its claws into her, Elka hoped against hope that there would remain happy endings for them all, especially Crystal.