1

You can open your eyes now, Tara. Mrs. Ellie laughed
at the sight of seeing her step-daughter too afraid to
open her eyes.
Im going to die! I hate this, I want to go back on the
ground. She complained.
Mrs. Ellie laughed and looked down at her stomach.
She was about 2 months pregnant, and there was a
little bump in her stomach, but either than that she
looked just the same.
Are you sure you should be up here? What if the baby
is afraid of heights?!
Tara, sweetie, relax, and open your eyes. Mrs. Ellie
said calmly.
Tara slowly opened her eyes and wanted to close them
back again. They were about 2,000 feet in the air,
looking over the desert area that is Albuquerque, New
Mexico...In a hot air balloon.
Mrs. Ellie offered Tara a hand up from her corner, and
she stood carefully. See, nothing to be afraid of. She

wrapped an arm around Taras shoulder while they

overlooked the beautiful scenery.
Little Missy, youre not the first person Ive run into
who has a fear of heights. The pilot of the air balloon,
Carl, chuckled.
Tara folded her arms across her chest. I am not
afraid of heights. She protested. And that was true,
she stood on the top of the Golden Gate Bridge for
crying out loud, and didnt feel one bit nauseous. Im
just afraid of this rocking death trap in the sky!
Its okay, Little Missy, Ill catch ya when you fall out
of the balloon. Carl joked.
Not funny! Tara hit him on the shoulder.
Carl was actually Mrs. Ellies uncle that happened to
have a license for flying hot air balloons. Due to the
fact that the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
just started today, they had to fly, staying out of a 4
mile radius of the festival. But Tara had watched the
balloons during the daytime, and thought the

kaleidoscope like colors in the sky were almost as

beautiful as the stars up above now.
Tara sighed. I guess its not that bad.
See, sweetie. Now, tell me, whats on your mind? Mrs.
Ellie questioned Tara.
Um...Well, the stars. I kind of named one after my
mom, Hope. Tara sniffled. And 9 years ago on this
day, September 30th, she died. She died because some
stupid people thought that it was a good idea to rob a
bank, and it happened to be the one my mom worked
at.
I know, baby. Mrs. Ellie wrapped her arms around her
daughter protectively as she began to cry.
She died because she pulled the silent alarm, and the
guy shot her. The bank robbers didnt even get any
money because the cops came and put them in jail for
life, due to numerous other crimes they committed. My
mom was a hero, and she died following protocol. Tara
sobbed on Mrs. Ellie.
Shh...Shh, its okay baby.

No, its not okay. Tara had to force the words out
through her sobs. Because I hated you. I thought you
were trying to replace my mother, and I didnt want a
replacement, I wanted my mom. I didnt want anyone
else but my mom. I didnt want to do good in school,
succeed at anything, I didnt even think I should be
happy without my mom. But you...You just wanted to
comfort me, and make sure I didnt feel alone.
I understand.
It was silent, and the only thing heard was the flame
that powered the hot air balloon, and the whistle of
the wind.
Im sorry. Tara said after a while. Im sorry that I
hated you.
Mrs. Ellie felt a tear drop. Tara sweetie, if I had to
travel to the moon and back, walk on water, defy
gravity, I would do it, for you. I love you, and I know
you never hated me, you just didnt know how to love
me. But I will always love you, and...Your mother, I
already know that she was the best woman on Earth to

have had such a wonderful child like you. And as long as

you have me and your father around, she will never be
forgotten. And that is a promise. Mrs. Ellie wiped the
tears from Taras face, but she replaced them with
twice as many.
I-I dont deserve a mom like you. I lie to you all the
time, you dont even know the half of it.
I know more than you think, Tara. I make sure you do
well in school. Your father doesnt know this, but I call
each of your teachers every week to make sure you are
doing well, and that they are encouraging you. I always
ask if there is anything I can do to help. I know what
your grades are Tara, you are a bright little girl no
matter what you say.
S-She did that? Mrs. Ellie really cared about Taras
grades? Tara hugged her even tighter.
I also know that you formed a band with some friends

outside of school, and that you play the bass. But what
I dont know is why youre not the main singer because
Ive heard you in your room before when you thought

no one was home. Youre good...But, youre not better

than me. Mrs. Ellie joked.
Tara chuckled lightly.
And I know that you do this every night before you go
to bed
Mrs. Ellie grabbed Taras hand and closed her eyes.
Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight
I wish I may, I wish I might
Have the wish I wish tonight.
Mrs. Ellie opened her eyes and Tara cried even more,
but smiled. No one knew she did that, not even Emily.
And I know what you wish for too.
Oh, really? Tara tried to sound challenging.
You wish that you could put a star in a jar and see if it
would burn out slowly, because youre pretty sure it
wont.
Tara nodded. That was her biggest secret. The wish
she made every night. She knew in her mind that all
stars burned out eventually, even if it did take

thousands of years, but in her heart, she thought

otherwise.
Mrs. Ellie wiped the tears on her own face. I um...I
know I cant really make your wish come true, that
decision is up to whatever is beyond the clouds. But, I
hope this comes close. Carl?
Tara almost forgot that he was there when Mrs. Ellie
called his name. He reached in the brown satchel
across his body and pulled out a mini glass jar.
Mrs. Ellie handed it to Tara. Tara opened it and found
a black velvet box inside of it. She picked it out of the
jar, and gave the jar to Mrs. Ellie so she didnt drop it.
She slowly opened the box and found a silver ring. It
was in the shape of a star, with words engraved around
the band: Star light, Star bright, First star I see

tonight, I wish I may, I wish I might, Have the wish I

wish tonight
Tara was about to burst into tears again when Mrs.
Ellie whispered. Open it.

Tara was confused, but soon found a small latch on

one of the points of the star and opened it to reveal a
small, star shaped picture, of a beautiful lady with dark
blonde hair, and deep brown eyes like Taras, sitting on
a horse with a little girl in her lap. The little girl had
shoulder length, messy, black hair, eyes like her moms,
and an almost toothless grin. Tara closed the locket
and finally let the tears fall again. She slipped the ring
on her finger and placed the box back in the jar,
hugging it tightly to her chest.
Then she mumbled words she never wouldve imagined
herself saying. I love you mom. And she looked right
at Mrs. Ellie who hugged her right back.
Tara, I promise one day you will capture that star.
And with that, they enjoyed the rest of their ride into
the night.
Dang flabbit! You two little ladies got me in tears!
Uncle Carl complained as he wiped a greasy cloth, from
his satchel, on his face to dry the new found tears.

Tara had never felt closer to her mom than in that air
balloon, her birth mother, and her chosen mother.