Moonlight

The warm breeze caresses the shades as the moon light shines through the window pane. It is a quarter to 3:00am and the air is filled with magic and wonder. Summer nights are always the best nights but something about this night is especially intriguing. Plagued with insomnia Melissa sits at her computer desk writing the night away in her favorite petite sized black note that her great grandmother gifted her before she passed away 2 years ago. Melissa and her grandmother were the best of friends. She would always encourage Melissa to follow her dreams no matter how far out of reach they seemed. Her grandmother was a well known poet in Miami. She was originally from Cuba but came to Miami when she was 21 to pursue her dream of becoming a poet in a big city. WWriting is the only thing that seems to free Melissa’s mind these days. It hasn’t been easy since she has passed away but Melissa is determined to keep her grandmother’s legacy alive by continuing her lineage as a poet. Melissa is a 22 year old aspiring poet who is currently pursuing creative writing at Miami University. She is currently a senior in her last semester of college. As she is about to wrap up her last stanza, she hears a knock at the door. “Who is it?” She asks. No one answers. “May I help you?” Melissa asks. Once more, no one answers. Haha, very funny. Now who is this playing games at my door at this time of morning!? Diane is that you? Diane is Melissa’s roommate who is a big jokester and loves to coin herself as the “queen of pranks.” To Melissa’s surprise her pleas are met again with silence. Melissa walks over to the door to open it. “Diane! You are so an….” When Melissa opens the door, no one is present. Melissa now a little spoked rubs her eyes and shouts down the hall of her apartment “Diane!” Diane responds with a groggy tone from her room “Omg what?! Why are you up Melissa? Melissa responds. Someone was knocking on the door and I asked 2 times whoo it was and no one answered. I was for sure it was you playing tricks on me. “Girl no way was that me. Do you see what time it is? I have a huge final in the morning. I don;t have time for games let alone being awake at this ungodly time of night. Melissa who is now officially spoked exclaims “ Then if it was not you who on earth could it have been!” “Well love, we do have a whole other roommate. Diane responds in a sarcastic tone. Melissa now annoyed says “No way that could be Tara, she has been staying at her boyfriend's house for the past couple of days.” Well Melissa, it wasn’t me, maybe you should call it night. Could it be that your mind is playing tricks on you because you haven't gotten any sleep for the past 2 days? Melissa, now a little calmer, responds with a sigh. “Yeah girl you are probably right. Let me finish this last stanza and try to ease myself to sleep.” “Yeah girl you do that and let me know if you need a melatonin. I got a bottle of 5mg.” “Thanks Diane, I appreciate that.” Diane, now a little less edgy, responds “ Anytime girl, anytime.” Melissa slowly closes her door and finishes up her last stanza.

“The moonlight signifies the hope in darkness, while the sunlight highlights the prosperity of the day. Dreams paved in a timeless cloak come forth as the mind goes into a haze and I am left wondering if the day will bring forth a sharpness to the daze or will it be delayed by the dismay I am left with from the longing of the love I lost.” - Moonlight

Melissa slowly closes her notebook and hopes into bed hoping that the calmness of the night will finally take her away into a deep sleep. At this point it is 4:00AM and she only has about two hours to sleep before she has to be up for class. As she lays down she feels her body become as light as a feather. Melissa begins to have a flashback to when her and her grandmother would grab coffee at this family owned cafe near the beach. It was their favorite spot where they shared the best conversations. One of her favorite quotes from her grandmother came into the forefront of her mind before she drifted off. “There are many things in life that are beautiful, and there are many things in this life that are ugly, but one thing is always for sure, the moon has the power to make even some of the ugliest moments beautiful.” And just like that, Melissa drifted off.

As she begins to wake up, Melissa feels a strong breeze followed by the smell of fresh flowers. As some daze from a deep sleep wears off, Melissa realizes that she is in a field of flowers. To her confusion, she wonders how she got from a warm bed to a field of flowers. Melissa pulls herself up and is in complete awe when she looks around at all of the other wonders in the field of flowers. Off to the north there is a river that gleamers like stars in the night sky with a bridge that triumphs over it. Once over the bridge there is a beach with groves of trees cascading over it. The trees are blooming with cherry blossoms. “This is the most beautiful place I've ever seen in my life.” Melissa says to herself silently. She begins to walk over the bridge to the beach where the sand is glistening like gold. While she still is in a trance an older woman with long silver hair slowly begins to appear and walks beside her. “Isn’t this place serene?” The older woman says. “ Yes it is, something like I have never experienced.” Though Melissa has never seen this lady in her life, she feels that she has known her all of her life. As they slowly take a walk on the beach the lady says “There is so much more to this place than meets the eye, I would love to show you the arc of truth.” “What’s that?” Melissa asks. The lady responds “ It is a ship that sails on the clouds and above the sun connects with the moon all while the ring of saturn protects it. Follow me, you will love it.” Im complete amazement, Melissa follows the mysterious lady to the arc of truth. At the base of the Saturn ring, Melissa and the lady step on which transport them to the ship's deck. There the lady directs Melissa to a mysterious man with long golden hair and an aura that glows like the sun. “Sweet Melissa” he says “There is so much I want you to know. Melissa now in shock asks the man “ How do you know my name? The man responds “ Oh beloved, I have known you your whole life. Before you even came to this world. “It is complete amazement, Melissa further asks, “How?” The man further explains “Let’s just say I am related to you in a way that I can’t explain to you right now but I need you to know that you have a huge purpose in this world. Your writing is a gift that will heal many who hear it but will also be something you make a lucrative living off of. Always remember it is what you give from the heart that matters more than anything money can buy. Purpose is true prosperity and many fall by the wayside because they don’t know this. Never let the value of the dollar define you, let your truth be your light. Now that you know this, do not be shocked when you find yourself in a more prosperous place when you wake up tomorrow.” Melissa responds “Dir I have no idea how you know any of this but I am going to trust your word.” The older man responds “Farewell Melissa, till we meet again.” The woman who brought Melissa to the ark and the man now unite as the scenery fades away. Melissa now awakes in her room feeling as if she fell from a cloud onto her bed. Her noisy alarm has now sounded off. Melissa who is still extremely tired begins to emanate on her very real experience. She says to herself “Was that really a dream?” In complete confusion she begins to get ready to start her day. She goes to make a cup of coffee, writes a new entry into her little black book, showers, get dressed, and is on her way out the door for class.

Her first class of the day is Poetry IV with professor Alaina Morales. “Okay class, I hope you all are well rested because today we are going to review all of what we learned this semester.” professor Alaina says. She begins to set up the projector to get started on the review for the day. As the review begins all Melissa can think about is the surreal dream she had the night before. “ As you all know, I am constantly emphasising the importance of connecting with your work. It is crucial that as a poet, you are establishing your values into your work. Being a poet is more than just a fancy word but it is a lifestyle. You are quintessentially a role model for generations to come, so it is important you all are taking the necessary step to living this way each day. Now what do you personally think makes a great poet?” Melissa shouts out “Speaking your truth always, not who you want to be, but who you really are.” professor Alaina reponds “ “Ahh yes that is a perfect answer! Would anyone else like to add on to that?” As more students chime in, Melissa begins to write in her notebook everything that happened the night before than it finally dawns on her that the woman she saw in her dreams was her grandmother. She has yet to realize who the man her dreams were but at this moment she runs out of the class to sob in the hallway. When students begin congregating in the hallway, she walks back into class, to her surprise everyone is on a 15 min break. Professor Alaina calls Melissa over to her podium to chat for a moment. “ Hi Melissa, How are you doing today.” Melissa who is trying to hide her true feelings “ I’m alive, and well.” Professor Morales responds, well I am happy to hear that and have some very exciting news to share with you.” Melissa now surprised exclaims yes? “Well, you have been one of my best students and there is a current award going on for Most Influential in each department. Every year a promising alumni from each major wins this high honors award and is given a medal as well as a pretty hefty prize of $20,000K.I decided to nominate you and this past week I have discovered you are one of the finalists!” Melissa felt an intense daze of excitement come over her. “I am so lost for words...Professor Alaina… Thank you from the bottom of my heart. “You are welcome, dear!” You deserve it.” Now all you need to do is submit a 1 minute video on what poetry means to you and you will be all set.

TBA-