UnEarth Magazine.

Words by Caveny Mantzaris, art by Daisy Kelly.

Up in the heavens, two bright stars danced in the dark. Waltzing between the planets, they floated in the crystal atmosphere and wandered through a deep black hole called ‘Love.’ 

They drifted in the sparkling galaxies, thanking the mysterious artist for drawing them together in such endless space. 

One night, the stars glimpsed a shot of color in the inky distance. Diving down to inspect the treasure more closely, they found a rare beauty. A perfect marble of blended blues and dewy greens twirled before them, illuminated by the sun’s soft light. 

“What a masterpiece!” admired one star. 

“I’ve never seen anything like it in our millions of years of existing! The artist must have taken extra time when creating this jewel,” agreed the other. 

Each time the stars visited the colorful little planet, their love for it grew. There was something very special about the way the glossy paint strokes constantly shifted shades in the light, and intricate patterns flowed along the surface. As the fresh greens swayed and the waves collapsed in unison, the sphere itself almost seemed to breathe. When the stars listened very closely, they thought they could hear its whisper… 

“Alive, alive, alive.” 

The stars named the treasure, ‘Earth,’ and came back every century to check on their world. They would watch, mesmerized, as the globe spun gracefully…endlessly. A ballerina among the stars. 

Time passes… 

On their way to their favorite gazing spot, one of the stars fizzled to a stop. 

“Earth!” it exclaimed, pointing out a rusty-looking shape in the distance. “Something is very wrong!” 

A dark coat of dust seemed to have settled around the planet — a blanket, suffocating its bearer. The planet looked scared, as if the blood had drained from its face. The little dancer was spinning out of control. 

“It used to brim with texture and vibrancy! What’s happening to it?” the stars wept. 

As they watched helplessly, the greens withered — pages of history burning, paint shriveling with age and neglect. Dark smoke curled around the marble, cutting off its breath. 

“Alive, alive, alive…” 

On Planet Earth, two lovers look up at the sky from their kitchen window… 

As they watch longingly for a glimpse of sparkle in the soot above, they remember a time when they could climb green hills, dive in rivers, and run forever with the cool breeze rushing through their hair — a fading dream now. Just as the couple is about to lose heart, they spot two small lights in the heavens, blinking faintly. 

The lovers ache for their future children to experience a golden childhood like theirs. They wish upon the stars that, one day, Earth’s beauty may be returned. 

As the cloak of clouds wraps around the stars, Earth exhales in defeat, closing its eyes to sleep.