Chapter 1: A Night Under the Stars

Join me on a rooftop adventure as we gaze into the depths of the universe, waiting for the stars to reveal their secrets.

Stay with me as we embrace the stillness of the night, where the air is thick with warmth and the evening brings a sense of calm. The garden, after a hot day, feels like a sanctuary, where even the mosquitoes seem lethargic, brushing against our skin. Their need for sustenance can be forgiven tonight, as everything deserves a moment of rest.

The mountains fade into the deep blue of the night, their peaks adorned with the first twinkling stars. They cradle the valley as if cupping a precious gem, while the river flows lazily through, like a lifeline.

Yet, how trivial it seems, the creases of our skin know no more than the stars that merely exist to shine. In the evening calm, we can indulge in whimsy, as the day’s vigor gives way to the timelessness of night.

The night, ancient and wise, grants us youth, allowing us to observe without being observed. It’s a shared dream for the creatures of the dark, from mosquitoes to mountain lions. Here, on this rooftop, we escape the noise of the world below. Cars pass, their headlights leaving trails of white light, echoing the celestial dance of the stars.

No one looks up to see us, save for the stars, which, ironically, can’t see us either; they shine too brightly to perceive anything beyond themselves. These same stars are the forgers of the iron in our veins, intoxicating the mosquitoes with life.

We remain on this rooftop, waiting for the warmth of the tiles to return to the sky above. It's been nearly seven millennia since the NEOWISE comet last graced our skies; we can afford to wait a little longer. As Rumi once said, “Don’t go to sleep tonight.”

As we linger, the stars grow ever brighter, beckoning us to stay.

The first video, Thuy - All Night Long ft. Lil Kev (Official Lyric Video), captures the essence of staying awake under the stars, exploring the joy and melancholy of the night.

As we wait, the soothing sound of a nearby fountain connects us to the earth while the vastness above threatens to overwhelm. Our scars, like the vibrant mist from a whale's blowhole, remind us of our existence. The universe longs to reclaim us, to intertwine our very essence into its grand design, but not tonight.

Tonight, we’ll leave behind traces of ourselves, mere remnants of our presence. The sight of a comet is often seen as a harbinger of significant events. Rarely do we see a comet with the naked eye, yet for millennia, our ancestors looked upon the night sky, lost in an expanse of celestial wonders.

It's easy to overlook that the night sky was once far more luminous. The stars glimmered brighter before we learned to manipulate light, rendering us adrift in a sea of shooting stars.

Chapter 2: The Nature of Comets

The second video, A Journey to the End of the Universe, takes us through the vastness of space, exploring the mysteries of the cosmos, including the significance of comets.

Though we know now that comets are not stars but rather visitors from the fringes of our solar system, their beauty remains undeniable. The Great Comet of 1680 graced the daylight with its presence, while the September Comet of 1882 might have been the brightest ever recorded.

Comets are adept travelers, predictable in their trajectories, tracing paths like butterflies. They allow us to leap back in time, granting names to once-mysterious voyagers. Halley’s Comet, for instance, has been immortalized in history, appearing in the Bayeux tapestry as an omen of conquest.

Throughout history, scholars have pondered the nature of comets. Aristotle theorized them as weather phenomena, while Thomas Aquinas deemed them as ominous signs. Tycho Brahe was one of the first to suggest their origins lay in the cosmos, and Isaac Newton unraveled their elliptical paths.

Today, we understand that comets are remnants of the solar system's formation. Yet, the knowledge does not diminish their allure. The poetry of these ancient wanderers transcends the tales we've spun around them.

Halley's Comet is particularly renowned for its frequent visits, with a cycle of 75 years. Mark Twain famously entered the world during its perihelion in 1835 and departed the day after its 1910 appearance, just as he had wished.

Perhaps we’ll both be fortunate enough to witness it again in 2062.

While I don’t recall Halley's Comet, I do remember Hale-Bopp, which shone brightly for eighteen months during my youth. I never imagined I’d find myself on this rooftop, whispering to you as we await another celestial sign, one that won’t return until around 4385.

Comets, though visible, cannot see us. There’s a human tendency to ascribe significance to these celestial wanderers, believing they hold sway over our lives. Yet, these ancient bodies are indifferent to our concerns.

What matters to us is merely a fleeting moment in the vast cosmos. They serve as beautiful reminders of our place in the universe. As we drift through this void at incredible speeds, we are reminded of our existence and our connection to the stars.

Up here, beneath the night sky, our blood pulses with life. I seek out that familiar thrum in your neck, akin to the mosquitoes’ search for sustenance. If comets were a nightly occurrence, streaking through the sky, their brilliance might lose its charm. Their rarity is what makes them magnificent.