A Symphony of Constellations
Once upon a time, in the bustling city of Aeon, lived a young orphan named Orion. Despite the cruelty of life, Orion's spirit was as vast and infinite as the constellations he loved.
Every night, he'd climb to the highest rooftop where he had painted a mural of the universe and stargaze, his mind wandering the uncharted paths of the cosmos. His favourite constellation was Cygnus, the Swan, and his heart echoed with an uncaptured symphony whenever his eyes fell upon it. Orion possessed no worldly riches apart from his dreams, which were filled with nebulae, galaxies, and celestial bodies.
One day, as he was picking pockets to ensure his survival, Orion stole an odd-looking gem from a grumpy old man. Upon a closer inspection at his rooftop hideaway, he realised it was no ordinary gem. It was a cosmic stone that held the power to make wishes come true.
Driven by an irresistible desire, Orion wished upon the cosmic stone, 'I wish to dance among the stars.' No sooner had this travelled past his lips, he started to float, his body transcending the earthly existence until he was surrounded by the quiet tranquillity and prismatic beauty of space.
Orion was in awe, watching shooting stars pierce the silent canvas of inky blackness, and the glowing moon that watched over the Earth like a nurturing mother. But one thing was missing - his favourite constellation, Cygnus.
He then realized, constellations were man-made perceptions. In outer space, stars did not form patterns. They were scattered like golden crumbs across the indigo quilt of the universe. He yearned to see Cygnus and so he used the cosmic stone once again, 'I wish to see the Cygnus constellation.'
As his wish materialised, the stars aligned, forming Cygnus-the Swan right before his eyes. Orion felt a surge of inexplicable joy and performed an elegant dance among the stars, under the bright gaze of his favourite constellation.
His joy was contagious, reverberating through the cosmos; making the stars twinkle brighter. He danced until his laughter turned into sweet cosmic notes that merged with the universe's symphony, resonating through the galaxies.
One night, as Orion danced in the space, he realized his heart ached for something else. His wish had granted him the mesmerising spectacle of his dreams, but he was missing the human elements of his world —the warmth of people, the familiar cobbled streets of Aeon, the shared dreams and stories of his fellow orphans, even the bitter cold of the winter nights that had taught him to survive.
Amid the stars, he was just a solitary soul wandering in the cosmic labyrinth. He held the precious cosmic stone for the last time, and with a lump in his throat, he whispered, 'I wish to return home.'
He woke up the next morning, back on the rooftop, his painted universe looking more beautiful than ever. Orion knew then that dreams were not worth the sacrifice of reality. So, he decided to live under the stars, not amongst them. He returned the cosmic stone to the old man, shared his story, and spent his life inspiring other orphans to dream beyond the limits of the cosmos.
However, every night, he would go to his rooftop, look at his painted universe, and in the quiet solitude of the night, his heart would play a symphony —a symphony of constellations, echoing through the vast eternity of his dreams.