Heliacal – adj: relating to or near the sun – used especially of the last setting of a star before and its first rising after the sun’s rising and setting
Shi sat cross legged in the field, helplessly urging the sun to set. The oranges and pinks of the sun refused to give way to the blues and purples of the night sky, but at last they surrendered. As the sky darkened, Shi kept her eyes focused on a single point, longing for the heliacal rising of the one star that she loved with all her being.
Minutes stretched into impossible hours, but at last the pale blue twinkle appeared in the field of stars. Alone in the field, Shi let out a ragged, relieved breath.
“Hello, Grandfather,” she whispered, giving the night sky a little wave, “I’ve missed you.”
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