Fiction: The History of the Universe is a Love Story by Ren Martinez

The History of the Universe is a Love Story

By Ren Martinez

He began his new life standing up, surrounded by darkness.

But, that is not where this story begins.
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 It begins with bird and a star.

A bird whose songs caused willows to weep. Its voice rang through dusk and the dawn and all who heard were made beautiful.

A star who burned brighter than any of its brethren. It turned its ear towards the earth and heard the bird sing.

Stars are not meant to be moved, yet the star found itself turning to listen. The bird did not notice the star captivated with each note, unable to look away.

The bird did not notice a star fall in love.

Until, one night, the bird looked upwards and saw the star, bright with adoration. The bird felt starlight kiss its wings. When next it sang, the song was so beautiful the universe wept.

It was the first love song.

That’s not how the story ends.

The bird sang songs for its beloved until it died. The star collapsed with grief, the carbon of its corpse falling from the sky into the earth. Millions of years were all it took.

He began his new life standing up, surrounded by darkness. He opened his mouth to a song. Out of that darkness, another man came forward, his eyes like supernovas.

The man, who was once a star, reached out his hand. The man, who was once a bird, took it.
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That is how the story begins.