The Star

By Sai Adithi

She stood amidst the wandering crowd, defeated by her own actions. No amount of training

could have prepared her for the disappointment she felt. She walked into that room knowing

very well she was going to lose. She had accepted her fate. Then, where was this

disappointment coming from?

Maybe it was because of the guilt she felt when she looked at her parents. Maybe it

was because she saw the hope in their eyes die the moment they looked at her. It broke her

heart knowing that she was the reason for it. She saw their shoulders slump with despair.

The daughter who was supposed to be a crown of pride to her family had become a burden

on their backs . She had become the very reason for their shame. What had they done to

deserve this? What went wrong? Wasn’t she the star of the family?

Now, she stood defeated with her head bowed. The girl whose pride rose above the

skies now stood with her head sunken to the ground. She who had won everything had lost

her greatest battle. The girl who soared higher than ever had fallen to the depths of hell. It

happened in the blink of an eye, or did it? How is it that she could not sense her own doom?

Maybe she had sensed it, too late. What could she have possibly done when she knew it was

too late to save herself? What could she do when she knew there was nothing left to latch

onto? What could she do when she knew her fall was inevitable?

So, she did the only thing that could be done. She embraced the fall and braced

herself for the pain she will have to feel in order for peace. But, is it not human nature to

misjudge? Nothing could soften the blow she was going to feel. She was a fool to believe she

could face it.

And when she fell, the agonizing pain had nearly ripped her apart. This was worse than

every injury she ever had multiplied a thousand times. All she wanted was to scream and beg

for it to stop. But, nothing came out of her mouth other than her own blood. She could feel

herself drowning in her own body, her bones had shattered, she could feel them piercing her

heart and tearing it to pieces. The warmth of her blood was burning her inside out. In

contrast, she felt the cold air inside her skull and her mind slipping out of her. It was the most

nerve wrecking pain she had ever felt. ‘Why would anyone wish this upon themselves?’

What could she do but to endure? Her screams were deafening but no one could hear

them other than herself. Her lungs were drowning, but no one could feel it other than herself.

She brought this up on herself and she deserved every bit of it. The world is not meant for the

weak. It is the law of nature. Who was she to go against it? Those were the words she kept

telling herself.

But, now that she is looking into her parents’ eyes filled with tears and devastating

pain. She wished she could go back in time. We all have wishes, don’t we? If only all of them

could be fulfilled. It’s too late, it always is. She closed her eyes as she felt tears of regret

dripping down her cheeks. She choked on a sob as she tried to stop herself. What had she

done? She ruined everything.

Her soul’s wailing shook her entire being. She had made a mistake. Now it is costing

her everything. The guilt she was feeling inside her heart had made the pain she was feeling

in her body look like the prick of a needle. She had destroyed her family. She took away

everything from them in life. Now in death, she had taken away their happiness. What sin had

they committed to deserve this? Even in her death, she managed to take something from

them. Truly, she was a curse to them.

Even in her death bed, regret had refused to leave her. It embraced her like a shawl in

a cold winter night. Everyone has regrets. Some live with them, some die with them.

But, to feel it in your last moments as you fight for your life and feel it slip away from

your hands no matter what you do. Could there be anything more gruesome? She wouldn’t

wish this upon her worst enemy. ‘Yet, you wished this upon yourself’ her soul whispered with

grief. Maybe, she was her own enemy. For she knew, if there was anything that could break

her, it was her own thoughts.

She held onto herself as hard as possible as she felt her last breath escaping her. She

laid helplessly watching the light around her disappear, She felt the voices of her loved ones

fade away. She shed tears one last time as she closed her eyes knowing that her death was

only the beginning of the destruction she has caused.

The star has fallen and with her, so has the harmony of her family.

By Sai Adithi