Star Gazing

Most of the time, you can't see the stars for the lights in the city. Even in a small city like Ipoh. Light pollution, my Geography textbook tells me.

But sometimes, just once in a while when you're in a poorly lit or rural area, you can see those little sharp-edged flashes of white like the diamonds on a tiara, and it brings back memories...

A sky full of shining stars as far as the eye can behold. Bright and dim, twinkling and still, astounding you with their sheer number. Lying on a thin sleeping bag, spread out, feeling the grass beneath you move and crinkle as it brushes against the canvas each time you shift your weight.

"You'd never catch a sight like this back home," you say.

"Isn't it beautiful?" he replies, but he's not looking at you. His focus is on his beloved telescope, squinting with one eye trained on the blazing but far away, and thus unthreatening, celestial rocks.

"Come, take a look at this," he says, and you get up slowly, reluctantly to shift your eyes from the amazing view.

Hesitantly you look into the telescope: there's nothing but blackness. "I can't see anything."

"Maybe the focus is a bit off. Try adjusting the dials to the left and right a bit."

"Yes! I see something. A cluster of stars, close together. One is brighter than the others."

"Wait, let me see..."

It would almost be romantic, this illicit stargazing expedition, if not for the other guy hanging about and taking up some of the valuable sleeping-bag space. But at least he's keeping quiet, savouring the nature show on his own.

He (the one that matters) shows you his astronomy book, and points out the different constellations in the sky to you. You nod and show interest, but you're really observing his face. Watching how it comes alive when he talks about this, a hobby that he is passionate about. Passionate enough to want to share this experience with you, that your eyes would be opened, that the night sky would captivate you with its beauty like it captivates him.

Soon enough he lies down beside you on the sleeping bag, and you both talk, eyes towards the heavens, enjoying the light parade and the occasional shooting star.

You wish it could last forever, but you know it will end all too soon. Then you close your eyes to capture the moment-the scene, the sky, the boy-with all its heady emotions, in your head so you will never forget it.

It's getting later than late, and you really do need the rest for the next day. You've got a group of rambunctious children to supervise tomorrow and so does he. You thank him for everything as he says good night...or rather good morning, and then you walk back to your cabin and your peacefully slumbering roommates.

You will always remember this night, unexciting though it may be to some. And every time you see an awesome night sky studded with diamond stars, you will remember the boy who taught you to sacrifice a bit of sleep on a cool starry night; leave all your worries till tomorrow, and just revel in the beauty of the heavens.