It was a peculiar evening. Rarely did she find herself outdoors after dusk, but there she was standing alone. Alone, but for the moon and the sounds that night brings.
The glow of the Moon seemed to be magnetic and the stillness that it attracted surrounded her. Enveloped in its beams, her tired mind seemed content to just soak in its milky gleam. There was something comforting about the slowness of its ascent and the darkness that accompanied.
Without realizing it, she found herself treading across the cool blades of grass. There was an intense need to follow the pale path as it radiated across the smooth, damp blades. Not sure where she was headed, the trail of light shined with reassurance that this was where she needed to go.
The only sounds that could be heard were those of her soft steps on the foliage and an occasional breeze. None of these sounds could disturb the tranquility within her.
Once deep in the woods the terrain grew steeper and at the highest point a clearing was revealed. Here the moon shone so brightly she felt that it was within her reach to touch the brilliant orb.
After a few moments of unhampered silence, a voice came to her.
“You have asked for peace, quiet, and freedom. I have come to give you these.”
With a slight shake of her head, she replied, “Who are you? Where are you?”
The voice spoke with a slow, confident drawl. “Is it not easy to see? Am I not shining right before you? Late each night as your little one fails to sleep or worry races through your mind I hear you ask for stillness, freedom, simplicity.”
“I can give you those things.”
The calm around her had not broken, but within her heart an ache was beginning to resonate.
The voice continued, “Choose to go with me as I make my way around the world. You will no longer suffer from tiredness or demands of others. Only the flashes of stars will disturb the tranquility of our journey.”
It was so tempting. The idea of soaring eternally in the soft lunar light. No concerns. No incessant demands. To rest when she needed and never have to face the unending list of to-do’s and can’t-be-done’s. It was so very tempting.
As the pull of the Moon’s light seemed to swell, the hurt in her heart grew. She wanted badly to give in and let the brightness take her away. Away from the worries caused by the crying, the fighting, the constant needs and wants of others, the emptiness of not being able to be everything for everyone.
Suddenly, a cry was heard in the darkness. The shrill sound was far off but just enough to break her trance.
Her heart screamed to turn back.
“Don’t go back. You deserve to go with me.” crooned the Moon. “I can offer you a forever of freedom and simplicity. You will glow with me through the eternal night and shine for all those who are weary. You will serve as their reminder that there is something more powerful than the pull of human expectations.”
The cry came again.
Her heart was bursting.
Breezes began to churn and the wind was now penetrating the silence. Clouds edged their way into the outer glow of the beckoning Moon.
“Go with me. I will never make demands or cry for more. Simply be my companion. Go with me.” whispered the Moon.
Once more the cry reached her ears. Her soul was torn between the desperate desire for an eternity of calm and quiet and the need to answer the call of anguish.
The clouds crept closer to the alluring light and her need to turn back pounded in her chest.
Just as the first cloud found its way in front of the Moon, her ears rang with the wail of a baby.
Her feet pounded the uneven ground, no longer lit by the lunar light, she struggled to make her way. Only the sound of sadness coming from her home pulled her through the brambles and across the field.
The wind blew fiercely now, the clouds covered the path of its beams, and the Moon’s luminescence held little pull now.
She entered her home hearing only her breath. The cries had stopped. In the nursery her sweet little one slept.
She dared to lift him in her arms. The need to hold him, smell him, love him was just too strong. Breezes blew the curtains back and a sliver of the silenced Moon shone through. As the light hit, the words on the nursery wall spoke to her,
“I love you to the moon and back.”
How true that was tonight.
By: Melanie A. Peters
P.S. There is no pull stronger than that of a parent to their child.
#BlogBattle
Intentergy 
Melanie-
What a beautiful piece of writing!
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Thank you, Donna. For some reason fiction feels harder for me to share than non-fiction. I appreciate your feedback.
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That was as so lovely!
I feel like I’m in a similar place to experience such a journey.
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We all feel like it would be wonderful to get away but not so wonderful about leaving it all behind. 🙂 Thank you for reading.
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That was lovely!
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Thanks so much, Lucy!
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Very good Melanie. I knew I’d hear that phrase before too. Lovely twist to find the call of family overwhelming the lure to be free. I’m sure that hits most parents at some point!!
You should share your fiction more too. Maybe the Blog Battle is a good place for it if you’re finding it hard to share it. Well, harder. I noticed you said sharing fiction was harder than factual writing. Totally understand that because I’m often the same. It’s very personal work that gets aired to an audience of anybody. Risk taking if you like.
Well arced though to bring a conclusion with meaning. Keep them coming.
You have one up on me too! I’m not so good at short fiction!!
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Gary, your feedback is greatly appreciated. I will hopefully continue to share more writing and improve.
All of your writing is wonderful. Not sure I have any up on you. 🙂
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It comes with practice and constructive feedback Melanie. We all start somewhere and mine is still in need of all of that too. Really appreciate your supportive words 😊
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Is it too on-the-nose to say, “Stellar!”
I loved the ending especially, but the whole piece is good and reminds me of conversations with my wife when we were new parents struggling with that change in identity and dramatic increase in responsibility.
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Thank you! My children are my greatest accomplishment and most challenging endeavor but the love of family is definitely the strongest pull I have ever felt. I appreciate you taking the time to read and share your connection to my story.
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Really beautiful.
Rachael | https://rachaelstray.com/
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What a beautiful piece of writing!!! You’ve used words and images so well and the ending is so good too!! I’m glad I dropped by. 🙂
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Thank you so much! As a mom I always feel the pull of my family and their needs but sometimes it helps to be able to share the stress of needing to get away. This story was a chance to do that. I appreciate you stopping by.
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I’m so glad you wrote a story for the battle, Melanie. It is certainly a piece that so many of us can identify with! It’s the goal of most fiction to make a personal connection with your reader, and you’ve accomplished that. ❤ lovely!
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Rachael, honestly, I am glad I took on the battle challenge too. It has really been inspiring me to pen some more fiction. I am slowly making my way through the other stories in the battle. They are all so good!
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I’m so glad to hear it! If you ever feel lead to tell a true story in blog battle, that’s welcome too. ❤ If it fits the word prompt, go for it! 🙂
Lots of good stories! It's going to be hard to choose the one for the month!
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A worthy entry and a beautiful flow, thank you for leaving it for me to read.
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Thank you so much. This was my first work of fiction in a LONG time. It has been nothing but a positive experience. I really appreciate you taking the time to read and comment. 🙂
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Sharing, connecting, reading, and commenting is exactly what these prompts are for. 😗 I am pleased that we both joined in. Maybe we will meet in a battle reading room again soon.
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How lovely. 🙂 It’s sometimes so tempting to give up all of the stress and strains of life, but there are always the good moments to reach for when it all feels too much. Beautifully captured.
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Thank you! You understood well my intent behind the story. I appreciate you taking the time to read and share your thoughts.
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A beautiful story. So atmospheric. I could feel the damp grass, hear night’s sounds and see the moon’s silver light.
Well done.
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I’m so grateful for your willingness to read my story and that the description resonated with you. Thank you!
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You say that it’s the first piece of fiction you’ve shared in a while. I hope that all of those who came before me and said you should share it more often are signs enough for you.
This is a beautiful tale. I like the “To the Moon and Back” conclusion. Fits perfectly.
Nice imagery in the beginning (we feel the darkness, the light, the grass). Then, I liked the “tempting” that reminded me of Jesus being tempted (unrelated, I know, but that was my association), and then the baby cries (rooster crows) three times to wake her up.
A wonderful tale of maternal love.
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Thank you! I’ve been blessed with tremendous support for my writing. I just have to make it more of a priority in my schedule. I appreciate and totally relate to the connections to Jesus and the three reminders. 🙂
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