The Sun and the Moon

Authors Note: This short story, “The Sun and the Moon”, is based on a poem of the same title, which is featured at the bottom of this page. Each italicized line within the story is taken directly from the original poem.

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The day the Sun and the Moon fell in love was as beautiful as it was unexpected. It was a simple day, the sky clear of clouds as the deep blue of night turned to the oranges and pinks of sunrise. Across from one another, without any obstacles standing between them, the Moon was as full as the Sun was bright. 

Every day when they shared the sky, they tried not to stare at each other, and today was no different. Neither one was willing to risk seeing the disdain they expected on the other’s face. After all, why would the Sun like the Moon, and why would the Moon like the Sun?

The Sun had come to realize that her fire was off-putting, the Moon that he was a shadow people shut their eyes to. She thought she stood out too much, with a presence so bright that nobody could look directly at her. And he thought he brought too much gloom, as most people shut their doors and curled up in their beds when he was around.

But when the Sun thought of the Moon, she thought only of the beauty in the silence of night, and when the Moon thought of the Sun, he thought only of the joy and warmth that came with the light of day. Yet, neither of them ever said a word, too afraid of rejection to take a chance. They were not the same and they never would be. That was that.

They were separate, apart from those short moments when they passed each other in the sky. At sunrise and sunset. Twice a day, they could steal glances and wonder about what it was like to be in the other’s position. What would it be like, for the Moon to join the Sun in the day or for the Sun to join the Moon in the night?

The Moon was painfully aware of those moments. Sometimes, he managed to linger in them, still visible in the sky even as birds chirped and gentle breezes rustled trees, beyond the chorus of cicadas in the darkness. He made it last as long as he could, torturing himself in the time. When he could see but not touch her. He had long ago resigned himself to the fact that touching her would never be an option.

And he noted that it was sunrise and sunset. Not moonrise and moonset. It was her world, and he was just living in it. He revolved around the Earth, but the Earth revolved around her. There was nothing he could do that would ever be enough for her. The light of his life. He accepted that he was to live forever in her shadow.

But she was tired. There were things about her life that the Moon didn’t know. Each morning, she gathered the strength to brighten everyone else’s days, even when she felt like the life inside her had drained to the point of extinction. Even on her darkest days, she rose. It was easier that way because if she didn’t, she knew she would face constant scrutiny. 

“Why aren’t you bright enough today?” they would ask. 

And despite her exhaustion, she would have to strengthen her rays in response, if only to shut them up.

She longed for those moments when not only did the Moon take her place in the sky, but she got to see him, if only for a short time. The mask she wore was a heavy one, and his presence brought her relief. 

It was the closest to an energy boost she could get. When all the world expected of her was constant brightness and warmth, he was safe. 

Even when they were separated, they were a part of each other. It was a wonder it took them so long to see it. But, one day, they did. One day, they both realized what the fear that had kept such a firm hold on them both was hiding from them. That the Moon got his light from the Sun. And the Sun’s light was made brighter by the dim presence of the Moon. That they needed each other.

They were not separate entities as they had always thought they were, and the sky was more than big enough for both of them. For more than just those passing moments.

So the Moon began to linger in the day. He did it as often as he could, refusing to disappear just because the night had ended. 

And he didn’t know it, but the days when he joined the Sun had the clearest skies of the most brilliant blues. Because they both shone the brightest when they shared the light.

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The Sun and the Moon

The day the Sun and the Moon fell in love was as beautiful as it was unexpected

The Sun had come to realize that her fire was off-putting

The Moon that he was a shadow people shut their eyes to

They were not the same and they never would be

They were separate apart from those short moments when they passed each other in the sky

At sunrise and sunset

The Moon was painfully aware of those moments

When he could see but not touch her

And he noted that it was sunrise and sunset

Not moonrise and moonset

He accepted that he was to live forever in her shadow

But she was tired

She longed for those moments when not only did the Moon take her place in the sky

But she got to see him if only for a short time

It was the closest to an energy boost she could get

When all the world expected of her was constant brightness and warmth

It was a wonder it took them so long to see it

That the Moon got his light from the Sun

And the Sun’s light was made brighter by the dim presence of the Moon

That they needed each other

For more than just those passing moments

So the Moon began to linger in the day

And he didn’t know it, but the days when he joined the Sun had the clearest skies of the most brilliant blues

Because they both shone the brightest when they shared the light.

By Chloe HazelJane, 2022