Butterflies and Hurricanes

Once upon a time, humans woke up to realise the sun had become toxic. It had turned on them in a way that even the tiniest beam of light on their skin could burn it right to the bone. The very light that gave them life suddenly became life-threatening. The ultimate source of warmth and nourishment became deadly and, in many cases, fatal. 

So people adapted. As they always do. They constructed buildings downwards. They set up megastructures underground. Darkness punctuated by advanced artificial lights became the order of the day. 

They became nocturnal. They had special tinted glasses to look at the sun from, but the concept of ‘outside’ slowly became obsolete. Most still remembered the sun fondly. They thought of days spent in open parks and fields where they could run amuck. Sunbathing at the beach, waking up to a beautiful sunrise, and watching the magical colours of the sky during sunset. 

No matter the tan lines and the sun burns, they just wanted it back.

Sitting here in my room right now, I resonate with this dystopia. I feel like something as basic as the sun is annoying when it’s too intense, dissatisfying when it’s too feeble, and easy to ignore when it’s watching over us, simply existing. 

I feel the same way about everyone I love right now. 

I miss all my suns out there. I’m sure you miss yours too. We can sense them, but we can’t be close to them. We can see them through screens, feel their warmth faintly through the tinted glass of our isolation, but it’s not enough, is it? How cruel is that?

I’m waiting for the day the sun shines again and we aren’t afraid to step out. I can’t wait to see it reflecting in the eyes of the people I love. For their smiles to shine through me. For their laugh lines to align with mine. For their light to touch me and sprout new flowers on my skin to mark the beginning of a new season. 

I want to let go of the underground. I want to play peekaboo with our shadows and hopscotch with the seas. I want to find reasons to touch you again. For now, all my hugs and kisses are waiting like a billowing grey cloud. And when the sun makes a comeback, you can expect a heavy downpour.