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Why did my dad want me to come here? I feel sick with confusion.
My father and I loved to hike the red canyons, to ski and to bike ride
together. He took us to Carlsbad Caverns to explore the endless
caves and to see the beautiful stars that people from all over the
world flocked to see. It doesn’t make sense that the last place he
would take me would be here, a solid building in the middle of a
bustling city that will never feel like home. But I have faith in my
father, so I push the butterflies down and take a deep breath.
Here I go.
As I walk through the station, stars of golden and yellow light
shine down on me. The ceiling is filled with constellations, there’s
Gemini and Perseus, Taurus and Pisces. My eyes take in the wonder
above me and I can not believe it. I can see Orion, his shining belt
and his sharp sword, just like I would at home. My eyes fill with tears.
I am so happy and I laugh out loud, not even caring what people
think. I want to scream, ‘Grand Central Station has a ceiling full of
stars!’ Because it all makes sense now. This city that I have hated for
so long, now opens its arms to me, we understand each other. People
rush by, they have trains to catch, places to be but for me, the world
has stopped.
With my father’s letter in hand, I take sanctuary underneath a
ceiling of stars. Some say the brightest stars in the world can be seen
in New Mexico. I know now that if you look hard enough, they’re
pretty bright here too.
‘
Searching For
The Stars
10