Riley's POV:
I am on my way home, Maya has already gone home. It's not curfew yet, in fact I have half an hour left. I walk across a bridge which is straight above the main road. I decide to pause at the middle of the bridge and watch the cars pass by. I think about all the people in those cars. All going home to their loving families. I watch the blinking lights, safely showing people the way, despite the darkness that surrounds them.
I then think about my life. It actually is pretty good. I have two happily married Christian parents, an adorable little brother and amazing friends. I go to a good school with my father as a teacher. I get good grades, go to church every Sunday and I follow all the rules. I have the best friend in the world, Maya Hart, and a loving boyfriend, Lucas Friar.
My mind wanders to a time where my family and my friends were all out having a picnic a couple years ago. I remember me and Lucas falling onto the floor and laughing together. I also remember Maya and I singing songs and dancing.
Out here in space, I kiss your green face but it feels like you're light years away.
I feel like light years away. Despite my perfect life, something is wrong. I can't be sure what it is, but in these moments I feel overwhelmed by the feeling that something is missing. That something big is missing.
I look directly down. The height of the bridge is about 10 meters, and cars are passing by so quickly underneath. Lights blur and I hear beeping and the whooshing of the fast vehicles disappearing underneath me.
I look up and see the stars. I remember naming them. One billion trillion stars they say. That time felt so long ago, when really it was only about three years ago. A time where happy innocent Riley had no doubts. So many stars, that we are just specks. Not important. So why does my life out of all the stars, out of all the cars matter? I am Riley Matthews, from Greenwich Village, New York, the United States of America, the Continent of North America, The Western Hemisphere, the Earth, the Milky Way, the universe... the mind of god. The mind of God.
I think about God. I was told that our lives are part of God refracted, like the colors in a rainbow. I have always loved rainbows. So many colors all different but in harmony with each other. I grew up with my school and family strictly telling me to listen to God, for he has decided my fate, my life. I read the Bible, go to church and have memorized almost the entire thing. Yet some parts will never make sense to me.
I look down at my watch. 10 minutes and I need to be home. A tear escapes my eye and I watch it fall and land on the rough road below before continuing on my path home.