A Lonely Star

“Which star do you know?”

“The North Star!” yells a bunch of people.

Delight washes over their faces; content to know an answer. It is nice when you know something, when you can show that you know. That is the case I have witnessed regarding common knowledge. And because it is common knowledge, no one ever knows what can truly be categorized as common. Since what is common for one is not common for another.

“Is this a lonely realization? Does this make you feel lonely?” I ask myself and think about Sirius.

Sirius, or Dog Star by its second name, is a very bright star. It is the brightest. Always there, shining its light during the night sky, each night for each day, week, month, and year; a star that is always there, a star that shines the brightest.

Yet it is Polaris, the North Star, that so often is recited from memory and under the mistaken impression to be the brightest. It seems the North Star outshines the others.

“Sirius, are you lonely? You shine the brightest, yet your name is lost under Polaris. You are always there, yet you seem rarely remembered. Are you lonely, Sirius?”

A question that will never get an answer; such a lonely question asked to what seems to be a lonely star.

***

“Sirius, I’m so sorry,” Aiden sighed, wiping their nose. “I’ll remember you forever.”

“Aiden, what are you doing? You are interrupting the story,” said Blake.

“What do ya mean interrupt the story? It’s already over… And how can you stay so cool?” Aiden wiped their nose again. “My eyes burn and I’m sweaty. I hope I’ll never feel lonely…”

“Here’s a tissue. Take you time to digest the story and then think if Sirius is really lonely,” said Blake.

“Of course they are lonely! Can’t ya see? How many animals do you think haven forgotten them?” said Aiden with a raised voice.

“We have not forgotten Sirius. Everyone listening to us will notice Sirius. And more importantly, do you know if Sirius is lonely? Or are you lonely? What is it that made you get so upset right now? Does not being remembered by much mean someone is lonely?”

Aiden unclenched their fist and their breathing slowed down. “I haven’t thought about it that way. And these are some tough questions you are asking me.”

“That is okay. You can take your time to think about these questions. Let us go to the next story,” said Blake.