Entrusting Wishes to the Starry Sky

July 7th.

On my way home, I saw bamboo leaves swaying in the damp breeze.

The rustling sound of the leaves, the colorful strips of paper.

In a place I usually pass by in a hurry, my steps naturally slowed down.

I feel that the day of Tanabata has such a mysterious gravitational pull.

A night when the two lovers, separated by the Milky Way, are allowed to meet just once a year.

Orihime is Vega in the constellation Lyra, and Hikoboshi is Altair in the constellation Aquila. The two stars are said to be about 15 light-years apart.

Even if you traveled at the speed of light, it would take 15 years.

Ancient people connected those stars, so far apart, as two lovers longing for each other. The gaze of someone looking up at the night sky built a bridge of stories across that immense distance.

Thinking of that makes my heart feel a little warmer.

I feel that the custom of writing wishes on strips of paper also changes its meaning little by little as the years go by.

When I was a child, I wanted toys or to become a cake shop owner; there was no hesitation in the hand holding the pen.

Before I knew it, that changed into quiet prayers like 'May my family be healthy' and 'May peaceful days continue.'

That brief silence when the pen suddenly stops in front of the paper strip.

Entrusting a wish to the stars might be a time to quietly look into your own heart and gently confirm what you truly cherish right now.

As the twilight deepens and the distant ridgeline melts into the night, I try looking up at the sky. Today, it has been gray since morning.

Tanabata in Japan often coincides with the remnants of the rainy season, so nights when the Milky Way is clearly visible are actually not that common.

It is said that the rain that falls on this day is the tears shed by Orihime and Hikoboshi, known as 'Sairuiu' (tears of the stars).

Even so, beyond the thick clouds, the starlight that has traveled for an unimaginably long time is surely twinkling.

Just because you cannot see it does not mean it is not there.

That is surely
the same for the wishes we keep deep within our hearts.

Even if they don't come true right away,
even if days that feel like they are covered in clouds continue,
beyond that, the light will not fade and will be waiting for us.

I feel that the night sky of Tanabata
gently hands us that kind of quiet courage.

Once I finish writing this,
I think I will open the window and look up at the sky once more.

Tonight, from a break in the clouds,
may a single ray of starlight peek through.

Yukitsuzuri

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