Lia the Baby Light Orb

There once was a baby light orb that lived in the void. Her name was Lia.

She floated for years, eons maybe - who knows how long time is where there is no time. She flitted about, this way and that, sometimes alone and sometimes with a thousand million other orbs, young and old, baby blue and royal purple, pale yellow and bright orange, peering into every crevice of the universe all the while.

She did not wonder about her purpose. She did not ask, “Why am I here?” These are the silly thoughts of beings that imagine their life with a beginning and an end and a very distinct middle part, where all the “why” is supposed to happen. She did not ponder how long she would float or what would happen if she stopped floating. All she knew is she had always been, and she would always be, or at the very least she would be till she wasn’t, and then she would not be. That’s all there was to it.

One day, Lia heard her light family talking about Earth.

“Big Brother, what is Earth?” she asked sweetly.

With a twinkle, he said, “You should go and see for yourself.”

So he showed her, pointing to a pale blue dot far, far away in the middle of a beautiful sprawling purple-pink cloud. “You’ll learn so much,” he smiled and sent her on her way with a little nudge.

She was mesmerized by the view as she zoomed towards Earth at the speed of light, racing past asteroids, hot gas clouds, baby universes, and dying suns.

“What a pretty blue ball, just like me!” she thought to herself, as she neared her destination. “I wonder what it’ll be like. Will I see any of my light family there?”

Before she knew it, she was hurdling past the pink-purple cloud she’d seen so far away; then past a strange ringed planet, and a giant molten planet of lava; one planet she passed was icy cold and barely moving. Some of them had 7 moons or even more. Some had only one. She didn’t know how she knew all their names, but somehow she knew every one.

At last, she entered Earth’s atmosphere, feeling something she’d never felt before. Anxious. “Will they like me?” There was no such thing as like or dislike where she came from. What was this new feeling? She saw tiny life forms all over the Earth, some of them dying and some about to give birth. Another light orb, moving upwards, caught her eye on her way down.

“First time?” he chuckled. “Just pick a shell, and enjoy the ride. I’ll see you on the other side!”

Lia barely had time to respond, “Thanks! But what do you mean ‘pick one?’”

He was already gone though, as fast as he appeared, and Lia quickly knew what he meant. She was going so fast now, she couldn’t slow down, and before she knew it, she was flying past cities and buildings, then inside a hospital, in a room with creatures in white coats and a woman on a bed. Suddenly Lia found herself in the form of a tiny newborn baby.

“What is this feeling?” Lia thought, trying to take in all the sensations she had never felt before. As soon as she had the thought, it was as if her mouth opened on its own to let out a cry. She had never uttered a noise before, so the sound of her own voice for the first time startled her, and she cried some more. It could have been moments or years, but when Lia opened her new eyes, she saw fuzzy light and shapes moving in front of her, hazy like her light orb family. They had colors too.

The creatures made noises, to each other and then towards Lia. Lia tried to tell them how uncomfortable she was and how strange it was being inside this new body. They didn’t communicate like other light orbs, and they didn’t seem to understand her.

Lia thought to herself, “This is all too much. I think I’ll close my eyes for just a minute.” The woman held her newborn baby on her chest and hummed a song.

Lia floated off to sleep, where she dreamt of telling her light family back home how exciting her journey across the galaxies had been and how she couldn't wait to see and do everything there is on Earth. Big Brother just chuckled, “I’m so glad you decided to go. They need your light now more than ever.”

Lia was confused at first, “What do you mean? Don’t they have their own light just like me and you?”

He replied, “They were all born with it, but some have forgotten how to let it shine. Some have let it go out completely, and they walk in total darkness.”

Lia giggled. “How would they even see where they’re going if their light is out?”

Big Brother said, “That’s why you were sent there - to guide them.”

“But how do I do that?” Lia asked.

“Just shine your brightest. That’s all you have to do.”

Lia pondered it for a moment. “I will do it, Big Brother. I’ll shine the best I can!”

Big Brother smiled proudly. “I already know you will. It’s why we chose you to go.”

Lia felt warm and happy inside, to know that her light family had chosen her for such an important quest.

Big Brother said, “Get your rest, baby Lia, and take care. You will need it for the life ahead.”

“Okay, Big Brother...oh wait! I almost forgot. Are there more of us down there? Will I meet them soon?”

“Yes, there are others, and you’ll recognize each other by your light.”

After knowing all there was to know for so long, Lia had so many questions now. She started to ask another when Big Brother said, “Time to go, baby Lia.”

As he floated off into the stars, he turned back to say, “Just remember, we’re always here for you. We’re only a dream away.”