Follow the sun. Invite the night. 

She stared at the words written on the card held tightly in her hands,
and turned the card over to an image of a descending sun
with three white stars arched above the ball of light. 

In front of her stood a door,
the same sunset painted and peeling on the aged wood. 
In her pocket were the stars,
dangling on a string tied to a skeleton key. 

The key fit well in the lock. She twisted the key. The door clicked open. 
A narrow hallway stretched out before her.

She walked down the midnight black carpet
until it came to an end at the top of a stone staircase.
They curled down, spiralling to a place she could not see. 

Small alcoves were carved into the wall of the stone staircase, 
each one displayed carvings of either books, magical objects, or hands.
The hands held trays of champagne and port and tiny desserts. 

She accepted a candied strawberry and a glass of champagne,
taking a bite and a sip.

Deep red candles alternated between alcoves, 
dripping with wax and endlessly burning.
The candle light dimmed once she reached the bottom of the stairs,
and a final door opened.

She walked into a dark room of hazy lights and rhythmic music. 
The door closed behind her.

“Welcome to the world after dark. I’ve heard so much about you.”

When I can’t sleep I talk to the moon
because she’s always listening.
There are times I can’t find her when she’s new
or when the clouds hide her from my view.

Tonight’s sky was pale with pre dawn light
and the moon’s glow was the only presence up above.

“Have you ever met the sun?” I whispered.

“We used to be together, as one. Back when the world was small and we weren’t needed as we are now.”

“What happened?” I asked.

“The world grew and the sun was pulled apart from me. He took his light and his warmth, and I remained, controlling the tides.”

“Do you miss the sun?”

“I missed him deeply, back when I was empty and hard and cold. But his light still reaches me and we still chase each other. Sometimes we cross paths for a moment in time, but time isn’t known for being giving.”

The faded sky grew brighter,
streaking the blue with pink and orange.

“It’s his time now. I must go.”

And the moon smiled
because the colours were for her.

It started when he found a letter hanging in the tree
swinging from a branch in front of his eyes,
at a height where it wanted to be discovered.
The only words written inside were to meet her at sundown.

He returned when the sky faded to pink and the sun was nearly gone
and found her standing alone at the forest’s edge.
“You’re late,” was all she said, placing salt into his hand. “Follow me.”
I’d follow you anywhere, he thought as the salt dissolved on his tongue.

Together, they ran hand in hand down to the water’s edge.
She let go and jumped into the sea, completely consumed.
He followed, the waves softening upon his arrival,
carrying him out to where his feet no longer touched the ocean floor.

He turned back to see their footprints disappearing in the sand
and took one last breath before going under,
not knowing when he would need to breathe again.
She swam next to him and touched his gills as he admired her tail.

She led the way through the salt portal,
chasing the light to where the sun goes at night.
And he followed, entering a place were he was free,
forgetting everything he knew from when he was mortal.

“Take a sip of stillness
and tell me where
you came from.”

The octopus extended his hand and passed me a silver shell,
rounded and deep enough to hold what swirled inside.

I brought the shimmering purple drink up to my mouth and took a sip.
It tasted like the nectar that drips from stars.

The octopus settled onto a rock not too far away from mine.
I watched his colour change as the rock fed on his crimson appearance
and replaced it with a blueish grey texture.

I almost told him he looked like the moon,
but perhaps he doesn’t know about the moon.

I took another sip.

“I came from the ocean depths,
slipping between the water and following the light.
My first moments were of coming up for air.”

The octopus blinked twice for me to continue.

“My mind was clear and
free of where I was before.
I am new.
I am here.”

“Would you like to stay?”