The lights have gone out for the night, and Priya cannot sleep. Her restless limbs squirm in the tiny tent, itchy skin scraping against nylon fabric. The girl she stood behind in the line at the water pump is three tents over, and if not for little Kasin lying next to her, Priya would climb out into the dark to see if that girl is awake as well.
The stars are swallowed by inky clouds curling into the treeline, silhouetted against the barbed wire fence encircling the campground. She is not sure if the fence is to protect or imprison, but she does not dare ask for fear of accusations of insolence and having too sharp a tongue. She’s learned to be less than, to be seen and not heard, to stay off the radar, lest harsh words and harsher actions befall her.
“Priya? Priya, are you awake?” Kasin fumbles under the bedclothes, searching for his sister’s hand. Her gentle squeeze signals there is time for his fear to subside. If she pulls her hand away, he knows to make himself smaller than he already is, waiting for her safety signal.
Priya presses her thumb into his palm and feels his breath feather her ear. The weight of her exhaustion starts to seep into her bones, and she is grateful he is awake so they can stumble into slumber in each other’s company.
“Hush, Kasin, or you will miss the song of the stars.”
“Why are they singing? There is nothing to sing about.”
“There is always something for the stars to celebrate, Kasin. They are just too far away for us to know the reason right now. But soon, soon it will be time.”
“Time for what?” Kasin’s head droops into Priya’s chest.
“Time for us to join the song.”
Erika MacNeil is a dancer by training, teacher by trade, writer on a whim. Community leader, ally of the marginalized, advocate for the underdog. Look for her work with Rice Paper, Neon and Smoke, and Archived Press. Her writing strives to make something out of nothing, stemming from the person she used to be, then curated by the person she wants to become. Find her on IG @hintsofgrey.
Featured image by Ryan Hutton on Unsplash.
