Hey, guys.
My name is Maria (pronounced Mar-ee-uh, not Ma-ree-ah or Ma-ri-ah).
I want to tell you my story because, well, I can't keep it in forever.
Maybe people would like to hear it, what do I know.
But I do know that the last weeks of my life have changed drastically, but they've changed me for the better.
It all started when I was six years old. I looked out the window and saw a star near Orion's Belt. I didn't know this star's name, however. I lay my head on the windowsill, still looking at the star and wondering about it.
"What's your name?" I asked the star.
I didn't receive a response. After waiting for nearly ten minutes, I was done, and tired. It was almost expected, but I was disappointed to say the least. I stood back up from the window and began back to my bed.
"Hi," a boy's voice called from outside the window.
I turned and saw him. His hair was dark black, and long to his ears. It shined with the light of the stars and the first quarter moon. The boy's skin was pale and his face was covered in freckles. He looked cute, in a baby way, or at least I told myself that at the time. I didn't want to be interested in boys yet. I liked him already.
"Hello," I said enthusiastically, crawling back to the open window. "I'm Maria."
"I'm Betelgeuse, miss," he greeted, reaching his hand out in a handshake to mine. I grabbed it eagerly. "That's a beautiful name you've got, Maria. Honestly, I've never heard it before."
"Thank you, Betelgeuse. I like your name, too. It's like a homophone," I added. The magical boy laughed. "I'm six years old, how old are you?" I asked him.
"Me? Oh, let's see. I'm about sixteen years old, in human years," said Betelgeuse.
"Betelgeuse," I said. "Would it be okay if you stayed the night?"
He took a pause. The boy sighed and tapped on his chin. I was afraid I'd bothered him, and he would leaved annoyed and in a huff.
"That may not be for the best," he said slowly. "I don't know how your parents would react to that. We would need their permission and all, and it's late."
"Oh," I said. I felt crushed and defeated by his calm words. I didn't want the magical boy to leave.
"Maybe I'll come back in the morning," he suggested. I smiled wildly and brought a fist to the air. "You really like me being around, huh?"
"Yeah, you're really cool. We could play games and have popcorn and stuff. Whatever you want," I said, trying to convince him to stay.
"I could probably stay the night. If you want," he teased happily.
Exuberant, I held his hand and jumped about. This would be the beginning of our long friendship.
