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Let's Take a Gaze

M-37 (Center Road)/Old Mission Lighthouse

By Chyann JanePublished 5 years ago 4 min read
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Starry Skies

Years ago, it seemed quite impossible at times to find happiness quite easily, but today I found out why these moments meant the world to me. True happiness is when there is no effort in smiling, when you can laugh at the smallest thing and know it’s okay, you don’t have to be sorry for eating a whole plate of food, or two donuts. But the story I’m about to tell you, the place I’m about to take you with my words will show you true happiness.

Things were different one night, I was upset I just wanted to see the stars. In an area where the lights covered the sight of any stars in the sky it was too hard to make this happen easily. Nowadays it would seem quite impossible to find a spot where you can see the whole sky in Michigan. But this boy showed me every star and it was on the water.

I looked out the window of the passenger seat to the big green truck. I spent millions of nights in this truck going from place to place, adventure to adventure. Seeing beautiful things from the Sleeping Bear Dunes, Port Huron, and even Traverse City while it was covered in Ice. The vehicle became a second home to me, as well as the boy who drove it. It was an escape from reality for however long I needed it to be, it always would be. But the best adventures always have a story.

But tonight, had been a little chilly when I pushed the button to roll my window down I could feel the air on my face. I had no idea where we are going, then again, I never did. I was okay with the idea of not knowing, I couldn’t change my mind, or be worried. I was carefree when I was with this man. I wasn’t worried he’d hurt me, because I knew he just wanted to see me smile at any cost.

We turned down a road, where it looked like a never-ending area of darkness. He had said something earlier on about a lighthouse, but the way we were going didn’t look like an area they’d put a light house. The road went for 19 miles and at the end of this peninsula sat a lighthouse. It no longer worked, the whole road seems to only have houses and not many of their lights were turned on either though.

When I stepped out of the truck I felt the air hit me. I could smell the lake water, and I could hear the water crashing on the sand, not roughly but calmly for a night that was quite windy. It was dark, there were no street lights, and unfortunately, I’ve always been quite blind. I could see him walk around the truck, and that’s when I felt him entangle his fingers with mine. I trusted him, with my life so I walked beside him across the wooden trail and looking at the abandoned light house that no longer shined for the incoming ships. As we got closer to the water everything became so much stronger, the smell of the water, the clean breeze of fresh air, and even the sound of the water moving together. All these things made being in this moment so much more comfortable. As soon as we hit the sand I could feel it between my toes, kind of cold but grainy. Just another comforting feeling being there.

That’s when I noticed them, the stars. I looked up into the sky and you could see every little star in the sky. They looked so bright, and there was so many, I had never seen the sky so full. It was so breathtaking. I released my hand just to sit and lay in the sand, I didn’t care about anything in that moment. The stars, the water, the breeze, it felt like happiness. Being there was happiness. Enjoying the sight with someone so amazing was even better.

For the 10 minutes I just laid there, under the stars, next to the water appreciating every breath I was taking on that beach the world stopped. My smile was no longer being forced, it was genuine. Because somewhere in this world the sky was lit with stars, not lights. You could hear the water, not people gossiping among each other. You could smell every little thing about the beach, instead of smelling the cigarette smoke from someone next to you on the streets. The best part I was lying beside someone who didn’t care what I weighed, how tall I stood, if I wore makeup, or if my outfit was name brand anything. He just cared that after my long day that I had a smile on my face. He already knew what I wanted to eat, he knew my favorite music, he knew I smoked cigarettes at the time, none of that mattered or even changed his opinion of me. He always looked at me and saw me for the person I truly was.

He brought me happiness, he showed me the person I wanted to be. The person I knew I could be.

As a society we don't get to just look up and see that happiness anymore, we have built to many street lights to see the sky. But those details are minuscule to the real meaning, appreciate even the smallest gesture someone sends your way. Those gestures will show you what truly makes you happy.

humanity
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About the Creator

Chyann Jane

I am a young girl with an old soul looking to inspire others. I want to allow others to feel the emotion and influence them to make a difference in any way possible.

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