The Moon and Earth

By Willow Taylor

Once upon a time, when the world, the sun, the moon, and stars were all new, the moon looked down at her sister, the earth, and sighed.

"Why are you crying?" asked the earth.

"It's cold out here," said the moon to her sister, "I can see you, but there is nothing out here for me."

And the earth said nothing, for there was nothing to say.

And the moon turned away, to cry by herself in the cold, until she at last turned back to see her sister again. The moon looked down at her sister, and gave a half choked sob.

"Why are you crying?" asked the earth again.

"I'm crying for all the women who look at me, but I will never see for more than an instant or two."

And the earth said nothing, for there was nothing to say.

And the moon turned away, to cry alone, and unseen, until once again she went back to see her sister. Again, the moon looked down at her sister, and a sprinkling of tears fell.

"Why are you crying?"

"You are so beautiful and full of life, and I'm just plain, colorless and alone."

And the earth said nothing, for there was nothing to say. And the moon turned her face away once more, to cry until her face was streaked with rivulets of tears.

Once again, the moon looked down at her sister and began to cry, silvery tears falling like shooting stars.

"Why are you crying?"

"There is no one for me. Our brother the sun leaves when I show my face, and the stars are all so far away."

"But I am here," the earth said, at last.

"But you are far away too, I cannot touch you."

"But I am here," the earth repeated. "I will always be here. I always have been here."

The moon looked down at her sister, and her sister looked back up at her, patiently waiting for the moon to speak again.

But the moon said nothing, for there was nothing to say.

Sometimes, even when there is nothing to say, it is better to speak then remain silent.

Sometimes, even when you could speak, it is better to remain silent, because the other person might not want to listen.