Polaris, Chapter 1 "A Whisper From Polaris"

Chapter 1

It was a peaceful Sunday evening, and as usual, I sat on the cliff towering over the ocean, my legs dangling precariously over the edge as I gaze out at the endless expanse of the sea. The sound of the waves crashing against the rocks below fills my senses, and the cool sea breeze blows through my auburn brown locks. It's my favourite place to be, especially at night when the stars are out and the world feels a little less lonely. It's a beautiful, wild place, but sometimes I can’t help but feel like it's a reflection of my own life. Alone and adrift, with no sense of direction or purpose.

My name is Amber, and I've never known my real parents. For as long as I can remember, I've been living with foster families since I was a girl, moving from one place to another, never truly belonging anywhere. But I always had one constant in my life: my mother's weekly phone calls. She used to call me over the landline all the time, her soft and gentle voice soothing me, telling me stories about my childhood and how much she loved me. Her voice was like a lifeline, sweet and comforting, but now the line goes dead whenever I try to call her. A soft and depressing dial tone is all I’m greeted with. I don't even know where she is, or if she's even alive. Sometimes I feel so alone and lost like I'm nobody, adrift in a sea of strangers.

But as the sun sets and the stars begin to twinkle above me, I feel a sense of peace wash over me. I've always been drawn to the stars, and I often talk to them, especially Polaris, the North Star. It's a silly habit, I know, but it makes me feel better somehow like I'm not entirely alone in this world.

“Polaris,” I whisper softly, “can you hear me? I miss my mother so much, do you know how much I wish I could be with her? I hardly remember who she is anymore, or who my father is. I don't even know where I belong, or what my place in the world is. But I have to believe that there's something more out there for me, that there’s some reason I'm here.”

Tears slide down my cheeks as I speak to Polaris, but I don't wipe them away. It's okay to cry sometimes and to feel lost and alone. Talking to the stars always makes me feel better, like I'm not completely alone in this vast, uncaring universe. And as I drift off to sleep, enveloped in the damp grass, I hold on to the hope that someday, somehow, I'll find my way home.

To be continued...