The light of the moon danced across the gentle waves of the river as Seth leaned against the railing of the old iron truss bridge at the edge of town. HER bridge. It’s been a year, almost to the hour now, and with each passing day, the guilt continues to grow. He tried begging for her forgiveness before she left, but she refused to listen, and rightfully so. What he did was inexcusable. Seth looked up at the darkening sky just in time to see a shooting star fly across the sky. “I wish she stayed back.” Seth whispered. “Even if I went in her place, I wish she had stayed.” He knew that no matter how hard he wished, no matter how many shooting stars he wished upon, his wish would never come true. The wind picked up and the temperature started to drop, but Seth didn’t try to shield himself from the cold. In his mind, he deserved to be exposed to the elements. He gazed across the Black River, at the dimmer of the moonlight then back up to the sky, almost hoping to see another shooting star. As futile as it was, Seth would wish upon every shooting star he saw, hoping the fates would be sympathetic to his sorrows, hoping that whatever divine entity that may be out there, that it grants his silent prayer. He knew he’d never redeem himself in his own eyes, but he hoped that maybe one day, he’d be redeemed in her eyes.

4/26/2025, 7:40:17 PM