Carry On. It’s a 6.

“Carry me!”

The child’s wail pierced the evening’s peace; jarred from thoughts as vast as the night sky the man looked down, the child’s face mirror image of hers, mouthed “really?!”, then gathered the child in his arms, and continued to walk.

The trail among the pines was well worn (“love worn” she’d say), it’s soft carpet of needles insuring their footsteps were as silent as the stars above; he hesitated as memories breached the wall – he and she purchased the property before they married, sowing dreams in blueprints, sketching hopes along the wood line that broke into the open area at the crest of a large hill, “my mountain summit” she’d call it, it was 3/4 of a mile from where their house now stood.

“Perfect” she’d whisper as she adjusted the telescope into position before beginning her scan of the night sky. “This“, her voice soft, “is where all the secrets are told, promise me you’ll tell her that when she’s old enough.”

The man, his promise still invisible armor, set the little girl down in front of the telescope where she’d always stand; through the blur of tears, adjusted the telescope’s lens for the little girl, “look sweetheart, there… see the bright star to the left…that’s mommy looking down at this very moment, watching that we are both ok“.