The Stars and The Moon

October Writing Prompts- Pinterest List by ZellyKatArt

October 21- Moonlight Dance

Amelia sighs as she waltzes around her room, holding up her light green dress she is going to wear to the Moonlight Dance that night. She looks at her desk where she has the invite from Mort sitting. She walks over to it and picks it up, reading it again. She has read it maybe five times since she received it that morning. Amelia sets her dress on her bed and hurries to take a shower. She lets the hot water slide over her body, washing away her rose petal soap. She washes her hair with the rose petal shampoo and conditioner, making sure it’s all of her hair, and shaves.

Amelia turns off the shower and carefully walks in front of her mirror as she dries off. She gets out her hair dryer and stares dreamily in the mirror as she turns it on, drying her hair. Amelia finishes up in the bathroom and hurries to put on her dress. She doesn’t want to put on her makeup until after she has her dress on, so she doesn’t mess it up. She zips up the back, slips into her shoes and turns to look in the mirror again. Amelia giggles and hurries back into the bathroom.

Mort finishes getting ready and fixes his tie before he grabs his wallet, keys, and phone. He has heard something strange on the radio, but he doesn’t believe it. Something about the sky is falling. He has laughed it off since it sounds like something from the book, Chicken Little. He glances at his watch and hisses. Mort rushes out of his house and climbs in his car. He drives over to Amelia’s house, which is across town, and parks in front of her house. Mort walks up to the door but stops. He shakes his head and hurries back to the car, where he retrieves a bouquet.

Mort rings her doorbell and waits. Ameila hurries to the door and opens it. Mort’s eyes widen when he sees Ameila. “You look beautiful.” He holds out the bouquet and has a goofy grin on his face.

“Thank you, Mort. You look very handsome, too.” Amelia takes the flowers and heads inside with Mort on her heels. She finds a vase and fills it with water, slipping the flowers into the water. “Shall we go?”

Mort nods, unable to speak, and leads her out to his car. He opens the door and waits until she is comfortable before he shuts it. He sits behind the wheel and grins. “I can’t wait to go to this dance. I hear it’s going to be bigger than last year.”

Amelia turns on the radio and turns on some music. “I’ve never been invited to the Moonlight Dance before. I am so excited.”

They make small talk until they arrive at the beautiful town ballroom and walk up the stairs and go inside, holding hands. They talk about the decorations as they head up the second pair of stairs to get to the party. They greet some friends and head over to a table where they place their things. They take a few pictures with their friends, then get something to eat. They grab a plate and silverware while their stomachs grumble and their eyes scan the table of food. They take some pieces of smoked ham, mashed potatoes with gravy poured over them, a small salad with ranch dressing in a separate bowl, and so many other delicious foods. With plates full and glasses of white wine, Mort and Amelia sit at their table.

They listen to the music as they eat, watching others swirl around the dance floor. Outside, the dark sky twinkles with stars and the full moon arches towards its highest point of the sky. Couples walk outside and enjoy the cool breeze and staring up at the sky. Amelia and Mort dance a few more dances before they walk outside.

They stare up at the full moon, surprised at how close it looks. Amelia looks at the stars. “The moon and the stars look closer, don’t they?”

Mort hugs her close to him and nods. “They do. I remember hearing something on the radio that tonight might be our last.” He laughs when he sees how scared Amelia is from his words. “Oh, don’t worry. I don’t think they meant it literally. Just maybe the last to enjoy the moon and stars being so close.”

Amelia’s fear ebbs, and she smiles again, looking back up at the sky. But the fear returns as soon as she sees something streak through the sky. A star falls and crashes to the ground miles away. There is a loud explosion. Amelia screams and turns into Mort’s chest. Mort watches in horror as more stars fall from the sky. People run out of the ballroom as a star hits the roof. Fire erupts as another star falls into the ballroom. Mort and Amelia and a few other couples are trapped on the balcony. Amelia looks down, but it’s too high to jump. Mort runs to the side to see if there is something they can use to escape and finds the drainpipe they can climb down.

“Over here!” He waves and everyone comes over to him.

People shimmy down the drainpipe one at a time, but it’s slow going. Amelia can feel the heat as the fire spreads towards them. She fans her face with her hand, staring into the fire when screaming fills the air. She turns just as a star hits the side of the building, instantly killing those who are still on the drainpipe. Amelia is thrown off her feet, and she slides inside the ballroom. She groans and slowly rolls on her side.

Mort is thrown from the star as well, but he hits the wall behind him. His head hits hard against the wall and crumbles to the ground. A few other couples fall to their death as the balcony collapses after the hit. There are three couples left and the men try to help Mort. The women cling to each other and move away from them, scared. One looks up at the sky and points. They all look to see that the sky is nearly dark as more stars fall out to the ground, destroying the world around them. They creep to the edge to see there is no movement on the ground and the cars are all balls of fire.

Mort slowly comes to and groans. The men help him to his feet and he staggers out of their arms. “Where’s Amelia?”

Amelia moans inside and yelps when the fire reaches her, grabbing her wrist. She screams and pulls her hand back, quickly sitting up. Mort pulls off his jacket as he runs to her, kneeling beside her. “Hang on, Amelia,” he says as he pats her arm to put out the fire.

“Mort, get her out of there,” one of the guys outside shouts.

Mort picks Amelia up and runs out onto the balcony with the others. “Did you guys find a way down?” Amelia whimpers in his arms, keeping her burned arm close to her chest. Mort whispers in her ear, letting her know everything will be okay.

“There isn’t any other way to get down unless we go back inside and can get to the front door that way.”

Mort looks up and gulps. He shakes as he watches the moon grow closer and closer. He looks down and cradles Amelia close, still whispering in her ear. She tries to look, but he won’t let him. “No, Amelia, don’t look.”

Amelia stares into his eyes and can see the moon in his eyes. She grabs his head with her unburned hand and kisses him. They kiss until the end and the moon falls from the sky.