Foreword:
Asachild,Ihavealwaysbeenfascinatedwiththecelestialbodiesthatadornournightsky.Theirtwinklinglightsandmajesticformationsneverfailedtoaweme.Butamongallthesewonders,Ihavealwayslongedtowitnessameteorstreakingacrossthedarkness,leavingbehindatrailofburninglight.Andfinally,afteryearsofanticipation,Ihadmychance.Butasfatewouldhaveit,Imissedit.Thisisthestoryofthatonemeteorthatgotaway.
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Itwasawarmsummernight,andtheskywasclear.Thestarsshonebright,andthemooncastasilveryglowacrossthelandscape.Isatontheroofofmyhousewithafriend,bothofusgazingupattheexpanseaboveus,hopingtowitnessameteorshower.
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Wewaitedforwhatseemedlikehours,talkingaboutlifeandeverythinginbetween.Butastimepassed,webegantofeelasenseofdisappointment.Nometeorsshowedup,andourpatiencewasstartingtowearthin.
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Andjustwhenwewereabouttogiveup,wesawit–atinyspeckoflightstreakingacrossthesky.Itwasameteor,anditwasbeautiful.Wewatchedinaweasittraversedtheheavens,itstailofflamesblazingbehindit.
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Butinourexcitement,wefailedtorealizethatthemeteorwasmovingfast.Injustafewseconds,itdisappearedfromsight,leavinguswithnothingbutregret.
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Wesatthereinsilenceforawhile,staringupatthesky.Ourdisappointmentweighedheavilyonus,butweknewwecouldn'tdwellonitforever.
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Daysturnedintoweeks,andweeksturnedintomonths.Butthememoryofthatmeteorstayedwithme,hauntingmeinmydreamsandlingeringinmythoughts.
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Icouldn'thelpbutwonderwhatitwouldhavebeenliketowitnessthatmeteorupclose–tofeeltheheatofitsflames,tohearthesoundofitspassing.
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Andso,Imadeapromisetomyself–thatoneday,Iwouldseeameteorupclose,nomatterwhatittakes.
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Yearspassed,andIneverforgotmypromise.IcontinuedtostareupattheskyeverychanceIgot,hopingforaglimpseofameteor.
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Andthen,oneday,ithappened.Iwascampinginthemountainswithmyfriendswhenwesawit–abrightballoffirehurtlingtowardsus.
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IcouldfeeltheadrenalinerushthroughmeasIwatcheditgetcloserandcloser,itsflamesblazingbrightly.
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AndjustwhenIthoughtIwouldfinallygettoseeameteorupclose,itveeredoffcourse,missingusbymereinches.
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Iwatchedindisappointmentasitflewpastus,itslightfadingintothedistance.
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ButasIsatthere,feelingdejected,Irealizedsomething–thejourneywasjustasimportantasthedestination.
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EventhoughImissedthemeteor,thethrillofthechasewasenoughtomaketheexperienceworthwhile.
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Ihadspentyearslookingupatthesky,hopingforachancetoseeameteorupclose.AndeventhoughImissedoutonthatonepreciousmoment,thememoriesandexperiencesthatledmetherewerejustasvaluable.
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Ihadlearnedtoappreciatethebeautyofnatureandthewondersoftheuniverse.Andmostimportantly,Ihadlearnedthatsometimes,it'sthejourneythatmattersmorethanthedestination.
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AsIsatthere,baskingintheglowofthisrealization,Icouldn'thelpbutfeelgratefulfortheexperience.
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AndasIlookedupatthenightskyonceagain,Iknewthatthemeteorthatgotawaywasnotaloss,butagain–againofwisdom,knowledge,andwonder.
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Andso,Icontinuedtolookupatthesky,hopingforanotherchancetowitnessthebeautyofameteorupclose.
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ButevenifInevergettoseeoneagain,Iknowthatthememoriesandexperiencesthatledmetothispointwillalwaysstaywithme–atestamenttothebeautyandwonderofouruniverse.
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Andso,Icontinuetogazeupatthesky,filledwithasenseofaweandwonder,knowingthateventhoughImissedthatonemeteor,therearecountlessotherwonderswaitingformetodiscover.
