Lovely

I was sleeping on the plane, my head leaning to the left against the window frame, when I woke to the feel of the large girl beside me leaning into me. I thought it was my imagination until I felt her do it three more times. I finally opened my eyes to see her straining to look out my window.

"The pilot said you can see northern lights out there. Do you see any?"

I looked. In front of the plane was a huge display of green shafts of glowing light splashed across the sky. The light grew and shifted and receded, sometimes shining in streaks and sometimes in waves. Soon the entire sky was full of the glowing, green light.

I marveled at the sight and thrilled that I was getting such an unhindered view of the lights from my window. There's something quite magical about northern lights. The best ones I ever saw were when I was eleven, visiting my cousins in Alaska. Gorgeous. Northern lights make me so happy.

As the plane descended through the layer of clouds above the city we were landing in, the northern lights were hidden from view. It was strange to know the sky was hiding such an awesome display of nature's beauty.

I was sad I only had the stranger beside me to share the magical experience with.