Inkling 2023 - Flipbook - Page 23
there hugging each other for a little
while longer and then we return to
our laying positions.
“Hey, it’s the big dipper!” Syrena says
pointing up at the stars.
“Remember when you used to tell
me the big dipper was a way to know
you were always protected and
loved?” I ask.
“Oh yeah! Mom told me that one
time. She told me it’s a way to
remember you are always being
held. Like how a spoon holds soup.
She also told me it helps guide you
since the constellation points to the
North Star,” Syrena recited. Syrena
had told me this many times, but it’s
comforting to hear her repeat these
words once again.
Now, it’s really dark and even the
birds have stopped singing. We both
know it’s time we should get back to
our tents, but neither of us wants to
say it. I slowly get up, slip my sandals
back on and Syrena follows. She
comes up beside me, taking my hand
again as we walk down the path. She
squeezes my hand three times, our
signal for “I love you.” I squeeze back
and lay my head on her shoulder.
Before we climb back into our
tents, Syrena looks back at me and
smiles, “I’m scared about being so
far away from my friends and how
that will change our friendship but
you know one of the big differences
between friends and sisters? Friends
sometimes leave you, but sisters,”
she pauses, tears in her eyes, “sisters
are forever.”
Emma is a runnerup in the Short Story
category for this
year’s Teen Writing
Contest.
INKLING 2023 | 23
