The Night I Set the Sky on Fire

Angels-Symphony · 2009-06-24T02:51:27Z

The sky was on fire. Hidden behind thousands of dancing clouds was the faint glimmer of orange. The glimmer of tomorrow. It danced without limits, flickering like a boundless flame and glowing like a firefly’s light. Something about it made me hopeful, expectant. Maybe the sun would come someday, a full circle of light. I remember my little sister asking me once what music would look like if you could actually see it. If she wasn’t so naïve, it would have been easier giving a practical answer. If she didn’t believe in her fancies and other mythical nonsense, I wouldn’t feel as awful. Swaying her away from her fantasy land would’ve been simple if I had no heart. But I do have one. Scientifically speaking, of course. If I were one of those older sisters who sugarcoated the truth, I would’ve told her that music would be a spectrum of hues, a collage of one’s memories. Good thing I’m not one to sugarcoat things, otherwise the crushing of her dreams would’ve been harder, more painful. It would’ve come eventually, whether I was the one to do it or not. I scooped a handful of sand from my side. Although wet, it still felt warm like a collection of flame. It made me wonder if it was the volcano’s doing or actually the sun’s work. Shells glinted in the sand, wishing they could go back to where they belonged… the ocean. Where did I belong? Did I deserve to fade? To be alongside my dead mother whose last request was to protect my little sister? “Boy, I did a great job, didn’t I?” I muttered to myself. Talking to myself was normal, but my sister found it sardonic. After she became a sensible person, of course. “Who are you talking to, Aysel?” she’d constantly ask me, her brow twitching with irritation. “Faeries? Mermaids? Invisible friends? I thought you said they didn’t exist? That they were all lies?” I just brushed her off and continued to give nature a personality. I don’t look at people who talk to themselves as lonely anymore. In fact, I look at them like they’re the luckiest people in the world. They have friends. They believe. The wind started blowing at my face, sending my dark curls into the air along with it. The wind persuaded me to fly, but I knew it wasn’t strong enough to lift me. At one time, I believed it could. I tried everything from taping an umbrella to my back to tying a bunch of balloons to my overalls. “You don’t believe anymore, Aysel? Just because Mama left?” my little sister once croaked, swallowing the realization hard. I guess I don’t. What reason did I have to believe, anyway? I stared out at the clusters of the inferno as I thought back to the last time I believed. “There’s no way you can set it on fire, Aysel. Not the sky.” Amora, an old companion, had snorted, sweeping her scarlet locks behind her. “You wanna bet?” I swallowed a handful of trail mix before folding my arms contently. “I’ll bet anything you can’t do it.” I raised a brow at her as I wiped my hands on my shirt, “Even your gold watch? You want to bet on that, too?” She flinched, eyes suddenly wide. Stroking her gold watch, she said, “Fine, I’ll bet with my gold watch-” “Never back out on a challenge, do you, Amora?” I waved a hand over my mouth, yawning dramatically. I settled onto one of the large rocks. Its surface was cool despite the humidity. “But if I win,” the corner of her lip lifted, “you have to ask Cyril out to the festival and make the first move, got it?” I didn’t budge. Instead, I flashed her a toothy smile, “You’re on.” We shook on it. # “What’s taking so long with that fire?” Amora mimicked my overdramatic yawn. “Just wait. My magic only comes under certain circumstances.” I rubbed my hands together, wearing out the surface of my skin. After that, I slid my legs out on the shore, stretching into a split. “Magic powers?” She shook her head with logic on her side. “My, my, you sure are a strange one, Aysel.” I craned my head over my side and examined the sky. Shadowy clouds started clustering near the horizon, the familiar orange glow just barely peering over the water’s edge. “Close your eyes until I say when,” I ordered, a cloud of excitement gathering in my stomach. Amora rolled her eyes before shutting them, folding her arms and her legs. “I’m waiting.” I snickered as I glanced back at the horizon. “It looks like I’ve got myself a new watch.” # It’s been too long since the last time I set the sky on fire. Maybe I will again one day, if someone ignites my over-worn wick.

Angels-Symphony

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Fri Jul 31, 2009 10:42 pm

Angels-Symphony says... · Fri Jul 31, 2009 10:42 pm

updated version up ^^

You cannot dream yourself into a character; you must hammer and forge yourself into one.

The writer, when he is also an artist, is someone who admits what others don't dare reveal.

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TalaPaulwic

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Fri Jul 31, 2009 10:48 pm

TalaPaulwic says... · Fri Jul 31, 2009 10:48 pm

I really like this. It is very interesting. You need to work on paragraphs a bit more though. You write a few sentences per paragraph. I do that too. The thing that is wrong with that is that you start something then you finish in a different paragraph. It looks odd to the eye.

Other then that it looks really good. No typo's or any grammatic mistakes as far as I can tell.

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EmiAnne

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Tue Sep 08, 2009 1:38 am

EmiAnne says... · Tue Sep 08, 2009 1:38 am

i loved your story!!! i liked your magic and imagery. Tell me more about Amora and Aysel!!

Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I will try again tomorrow"
-mary anne radmacher

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JK

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Tue Sep 08, 2009 1:59 am

JK says... · Tue Sep 08, 2009 1:59 am

Wow. I'm impressed. Very, very nice description. Very, very nice everything. I do, however, have one commment to make:

In fact, I look at them like they’re the luckiest people in the world. They have friends. They believe.

Are you trying to say these people think they have friends, or they have friends because they believe?
Other than that, this story is wonderful. If you write more, PM me.

-JK

The doorway has been opened.
Stab.

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AlphaGirl01

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Wed Nov 24, 2010 12:22 pm

AlphaGirl01 says... · Wed Nov 24, 2010 12:22 pm

This story was...amazing! I agree with Evi (hi, Evi!) with you abruptly changing the subject to music. My suggestion is maybe say something like this: It reminded me of the memories I had with my sister. I remembered the time she asked me what music would look like if you could see it.
Something like that, but that's just a mere suggestion. I didn't catch in gramatical errors, even though my brains half asleep. I love the ending, but I feel that this story isn't done yet, like there' more behind it. That there should be more. Your characters seem kind of...real in a way, especially the older sister. Plus, the names are unique, which I like.
I hope this review helped and please post another part to this, if there is one.
-AlphaGirl

Sometimes two people fall apart to realize how much they need to fall back together.

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