Afterglow Poem Novels & Stories

Not one fire anymore. Many small glows. All still burning. And that was the truest homecoming of all.

The sounds of the party faded into a distant hum, until it felt like we were the only two people in the world. Late that night, the full moon spilled its silver light over us, a blessing from the Goddess herself. My new life had just begun.

She clung to Diego, his warmth and empathy becoming a lifeline in her darkest hours. As the night finally relinquished its hold, delicate tendrils of light began to gently brush the sky, signaling the gradual breaking of dawn. Soft hues of pink and orange slowly spread across the horizon, chasing away the remnants of darkness and casting a warm glow upon the world. The air was still and filled with anticipation, as if it held the promise of a new day dawning.

His young voice slowly walked through the words that didn't have any meaning then- not like they did now. "It is not now as it hath been of yore;- turn wheresoe'er I may, by night or day- the things which I have seen, I now can see no more." The tiny flame was barely enough for him to make out the tarred words, but it was just enough to make the freezing nights a little warmer and the sour tasting days a sliver sweeter. The air was musty and tainted, but it was a common occurrence now. "The rainbow comes and goes, and lovely is the rose. The moon doth with delight look round her when the heavens are bare, waters on a starry night are beautiful and fair..."

I stopped mid-step on the balcony where I often came to watch the empty night, my breath catching in my throat as I stared at that impossible point of light. Then another appeared. Then another. Then hundreds bloomed across the darkness like silver wounds healing in the sky, like flowers opening to greet a dawn that had been delayed for far too long. They emerged with increasing urgency, as though making up for lost time, reclaiming the territory that had been stolen from them.

Behind us, I catch one last flicker of light—the crescent moon pulses once, silver running like liquid through its veins. Then it fades to stillness.

I smiled and said gently, "Is that so? Congratulations, Catherine. But… I'll have to decline. Send him my best." The call ended. I drifted to the balcony, where Celandre's skyline stretched before me, a forest of steel and glass. Drawing a deep breath, I looked into the boundless sky and let a serene smile curve my lips. Goodbye, Liam. Goodbye… to my past.

She stood under the palm tree as she gazed at the fireworks. "Do you like fireworks, Ms. Fordham?" Olivia replied calmly, "It's only natural to like things that are pretty. But as pretty as they are, fireworks burn out very quickly. "Soon, the night sky will return to being calm, like nothing ever happened." "Even so, at least the beauty is preserved in our memories, and we will remember it for a long time." Olivia shook her head in resignation. "That's true, but I don't think I would live long enough to see the day."

"Now, without my help, say what you just learnt." He cleared his throat, "Do not stand at my grave and weep I am not there; I do not sleep. I am a hundred winds that blow, I am the diamond glints on snow, I am the sun on ripened grain, I am the gentle autumn rain. When you awaken in the morning’s hush I am the swift uplifting rush Of quiet birds in circled flight. I am the twinkling... stars that shine at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry,

I spent all my life with you, and that makes it worth living. The edge of the flame licked Grace's flesh before it ruthlessly consumed her whole. Then, a faint, weak voice reverberated in the air. "The sky is bright, and the moon is so high. And precious Willow's sleep drew nigh."