In a blanket of stars laid down in the universe, there was this one star whose brightness is warm as a hot chocolate and sweater for a cold winter night. His brightness was so warm it felt like home but unnoticed by many as he was surrounded by bigger and brighter stars.

This star fell down to the earth for a mission. Although he was not able decipher what his mission truly was, he walked on and on in the surface of this planet. He came to a wounded cave and decided to rest for a night.

“I don’t like you being here,” the cave said to the star.

“Why?”

“I don’t like anyone to go near me.”

“But I’m not just anyone. I am a star,” the star replied. “I see that you are wounded. Would you like me to tend your wounds?”

“No!” the cave screamed. “Go away!”

“I didn’t do anything wrong,” the stars said, hurt. “Why are you so mad at me?”

“Because stars like you never meant to stay.”

“I can stay,” the star said. “Where did you get these wounds?”

“From another star who came by and said he will stay.”

The star was loss for words. He learned that the cave wounded herself and refused any help from anyone who passes by. The cave was whole and happy before the first star came. And when the first star left the cave, river splashed violently from the opening of the cave. Drowned with her own river of sorrow, the cave wounded herself with rocks and twigs. The flood vanished the next day leaving the cave with mud and wounds. And never once again they saw the cave weep.

“Why did the first star leave you?” the star asked the cave.

“He said he was on a mission,” the cave replied. “He said he needed to go.”

“Oh,” the star said. “I have a mission, too. I’m not sure what it is yet. For the meantime, let me help you tend your wounds until I figure it out.”

Days and months passed, the cave’s wounds were healed through the help of the star. The day came when the cave was finally healed and her scars were just part of a bitter memory. The cave turned to star and said, “Thank you for helping me treat my wounds. You can go now.”

“But I want to stay,” the star replied.

“But you have a mission,” the cave said. “If you don’t go now, you’ll never be able to figure out your mission.”

“I’ve figured it out months ago.” The star smiled. “I realized that our missions are the choices we make and the choices we will have to make. I chose to stay. I chose to help you. Now, I want to stay.”

Just then, a spring appeared at the heart of the cave.

“Will you let me stay?”