Zara had always been a creature of habit. She cherished the comforting familiarity of her old home, where every creaky floorboard and peeling wallpaper told a story. It was where she had taken her first steps, celebrated birthdays and whispered secrets to her childhood best friend, a massive oak tree in the backyard.

But one thing held a special place in her heart — the moon.

Zara was a moon enthusiast. She loved the moon in all its phases, from the crescent silver to the full, luminous circle. She used to spend countless nights gazing at the night sky from her old bedroom window, watching the moonrise and playful stars scattered all around it. The view of the moon from her room window was a source of endless wonder and solace.

But life had other plans for Zara and her family. Her parents decided to sell their beloved old house and move to a new one, one with a bigger yard and in an area with better schools. The decision had been made with good intentions, yet for Zara, it felt like a piece of her heart was being ripped away, especially her cherished moonlit views from the window of her room.

On the day when they moved out, Zara couldn’t help but linger in her empty bedroom. The walls, once adorned with posters and memories, now stood bare and lifeless. She glanced at the window through which she had witnessed countless moonrises.

As the truck pulled away from their old house, Zara watched it disappear around a corner, tears streaming down her face. They also drove behind it to their new abode.

As they arrived in their new house, it seemed nice enough to Zara, with its spacious rooms and modern amenities. She only wished to have the beautiful view of the moon at night. And when the night arrived, she was dejected to find that the view of the moon was not the same. The trees and buildings obscured her beloved moon.

Days turned into weeks, and Zara began to adjust to her new surroundings. She made new friends in the neighbourhood and started exploring the nearby park. Her new bedroom slowly began to feel like her own, as she decorated it with posters of the moon and mementos from her old room.

One evening, as the moon cast its gentle glow through her new bedroom window, Zara realised that while she missed her old house and the unobstructed view of the moon, she was also creating new moonlit memories in this new place. She began to spend nights on her balcony, watching the moonrise and appreciating its beauty, even if it was not the same clear view she once had. But now she began to appreciate it once again, she realised that she could still see the moon even if the view was not as clear from her bedroom window. The realisation made Zara quite content.

Life had taught Zara that change was inevitable, but her love for the moon will always remain constant. She found solace in the fact that the moon, though it view was different from that of her old home, still lit up her nights with its serene presence. It was a reminder that while memories may be left behind, new ones could be created under the same, timeless moonlight.

Published in Dawn, Young World, March 16th, 2024