.004 Samson

The golden morning sun washed a yellow glow over the valley surrounding the kingdom. These mornings were usually a peaceful time of day, enjoyed by the many
Children that inhabited the village. Among them was Luna, a child unlike the others. She was kind, bright, and had an undying interest in the way things worked. She wandered around the garden with the other small children, collecting flowers and other interesting things they found, while Apollo kept a close eye on her.
''Come inside, dear, and let the children play.'' his wife, Artemis called to him
''I know how you feel, I think about him everyday too, but we must not dwell on the past.''
''Yes. But it would give me great pain to see our daughter kidnapped as well. There's no risk in watching over her.'' Apollo said.
Artemis sighed deeply. ''You've got to understand that life needs to take its own course, no matter what, Luna will always be safe as long as she's inside the village. ''
Apollo hesitated in the doorway, and then reluctantly closed the door, finally letting his sights off his daughter.



As night began to fall, Luna watched from the porch of her house as her mother stood in the middle of the garden and started to make the moon rise up into the sky. As if her mother could sense Luna’s glaze upon her she turned her head to look back at her daughter.
“Luna, oh sweet Luna, come over here for a second.”
Her mother called out. Luna was hesitant at first but then ran to her mother over all the flowers fireflies hovered over her as if they wanted to light her way. Her mother’s eyes glowed in the dark, and Luna often thought that her mother was beautiful. When she reached Artemis the fireflies scattered and went up in the sky and became stars. Luna smiled up at then, and whispered “Thank You” to them.
Artemis smiled back at her daughter. “Thanks you for lighting up the sky for me dear.”
Luna looked down at her hands slightly embarrassed. Artemis put her focus back on the moon, still trying to make it go as high up in the sky as she could. “I called you over here because I thought that you would like to help me with the moon.” She said as she looked back down at Luna. Luna’s head snapped back up to look at her mom.
“Really?!” She said with the hint of excitement in her voice.
“Really.” Artemis said as she kept one hand in the air to keep the moon still as she let her other hand signal Luna to go in front of her.
“Now Luna what I want you to do is concentrate. Put your hands out and try to visualize the moon in your hands. Once you feel it tell me, and I will let it go.”
Luna was slightly afraid of the idea. “What if…what if I can’t keep a hold of it…”
Artemis cut her off. “I know you can do it, try to keep all those negative thoughts out of your head. “
Luna closed her eyes and envisioned herself holding the moon in her hands. Her mother smiled, and slowly let go of the moon. Luna opened her eyes, and saw before her, the moon suspended up in the sky by her own hands.
''I did i t!'' She said excitedly.
Artemis laughed.


She helped her daughter with the final steps and then ushered her inside. Luna bounced gleefully towards her room.
After several bedtime stories, Luna was half asleep.
'' Just one more, mother, please?''
Artemis hesitated. And then she remembered a story that would be perfect right now.
''Luna, I think you're old enough to know about a secret that your father and I have kept for the last 6 years.''
Luna's eyes widened in curiosity.
''When you were born, you had a brother one perfectly identical to yourself in every way.''
Luna didn't respond. So Artemis continued.
'' He was born right before you were. You were both so small and fragile..''
''What happened to him?'' Luna interrupted.
''He was...taken away. And we never saw him again.''
Artemis responded.
''By who?''
''He was carried by the wind, a curse. Every day since that day, your father and I have missed thought about him, how he would have grown up with us. With you.''

Luna thought about this, she would have had a brother, and older brother, one her age. She then wondered what he would be like, would he like her to be around him, would they fight, and argue who would get the last cookie? Would he comfort her when she was sad, or upset? Would he stand up for her if the other children teased her? Then another thought came to her mind…
“Mother, what was his name, what was my brother’s name?”
Artemis was startled by Luna’s question, it caught her off guard the thought of her missing son re-opened her almost healed wounds. Tears started to form.
“His name was Samson.” She said almost in a whisper.
“Samson.” She repeated. “Do you believe he’s still alive mother?”
Artemis looked at her daughter sadly, and shook her head no. She saw the hope leave Luna’s eyes. Artemis then got up and kissed Luna on the forehead.
“Enough about this, it’s getting late and you should be sleeping.” She said as she turned and walked towards the door.
“Mother…” Luna said softly.
Artemis stopped and turned. “Yes Luna?”
“I love you, and I believe you’re wrong about Samson, I feel like he’s still out there I just know it, I feel him in here.” Luna said as she pointed towards her heart. “And sometimes I can hear a boys voice in my head, and now that you told me that I use to have a brother…I just know it has to be-“
“That’s enough Luna, I have accepted that Samson is gone, and I do not wish to talk about him again.” Artemis said as tears ran down her face, she hurried to the door. “I love you Luna, and I don’t want anything to happen to you I would be lost without you.” And with that Artemis closed the door behind her leaving Luna alone in the dark with only her thoughts about her brother drifting in her head like clouds trying to cover the sun.