I was heading to work in the rain…
…feeling deflated by life’s routine.
Arriving at my stop, thoughts buzzing around my head taking up too much promise, I took a few steps and then…
A star crossed my path.
Well, it was really a bright red, star-shaped balloon that had tumbled to earth because of… the rain? The wind?
Once upon a time it was buoyant. But the clouds set in and it fell from grace. Hit the ground. And now commuters rushed by, ignoring the stellar miracle in their midst. I could’ve followed suit. But when the world’s chaos threatens to squeeze every ounce of joy out of life, the dreamers, the balloon catchers, must dream, must catch, harder.
And so, I did.
While umbrella-toting folks pushed past me on their way to nowhere, I scooped up the balloon and took it to work with me. I imagined Stellar would spend the day on my desk, drying off. But when I wiped the raindrops and grit from her shiny face, she started to float up. Free. No longer weighed down by the rain or grime.
Stellar spent the day high (and dry) and tethered to a green ribbon stuck to my desk. She travelled home with me on another crowded tram. And for the last couple of days she’s bobbed about in my bedroom – a quiet, bright reminder that on a gloomy Wednesday in October, life’s random magic showed up for me in the shape of a shiny star.
© Phyllis Foundis 2025