Flash Meridian found himself in that state between sleeping and waking. He knew he’d been asleep because he could sense a beautiful dream fading and the tangible details of his ship making themselves known. In this hypnogogic state, the two worlds merged for a bit. The lovely figure from his dream was superimposed over the control panel of the mothership. With his eyes closed, he could see her vibrant form unobstructed by physical objects. If he allowed his eyes to open ever so slightly, he could still see her layered over objects.

He dared not open his eyes further for fear of losing her completely, and he longed to return to that dream, leaving his body to lay, unconscious forever.  Consciousness returned, however, as it always had, but still, Flash lay still and thought of her. He held on to the image of starlight reflecting off of her silver gown. Of her long dark hair against the infinite blackness.  She had kind, soulful eyes that were both beautiful and sad. 

Flash dozed again and she was still there. Stars clung to the hem of her gown like children clamoring for her attention. Or like baby chicks running under a hen for protection. They swirled and played beneath her and Flash wanted desperately to join them. 

“Come,” she said softly and beckoned to Flash. The gentle word hung in the vacuum and grew. It reverberated as it advanced, becoming thunderous, and sweeping over and through Flash. He felt paralyzed, unable to move or speak. “Come,” she said again and the vibrations subsided. 

With a sigh, Flash realized he was waking now.  It couldn’t be stopped. 

“I’ve been searching for you,” Flash heard distinctly, and opened his eyes.  There in his ship, stood the figure from his dream. 

“I don’t understand,” Flash said. 

“I am a shepherdess of the stars,” she said. “They represent those that are lost.”

“Why were you looking for me?” Flash asked.  “I seek the lost, and bring back the strayed. I bind up the injured and strengthen the weak.”


Flash looked up at the stars displayed on the screen and asked “Does one of those stars represent me?”

“These ninety and nine are safe in my care,” she said. Pointing to a dark spot in the heavens, she said “This one is you.”

Flash looked closely at the screen and saw nothing there.

“A black hole?” he asked. “Yes, you are my little black sheep that wandered away. It took me a while to find you again. You have so much light inside you,” the Shepherdess said. 

“Then why am I a black sheep?” Flash asked. 

“First of all, that is a label you put on yourself a long time ago, so you might be the best person to answer that question.  Secondly, it’s not a bad thing to be!  You have a great force inside you that draws light and holds it inside making for a beautiful soul. Some people wear all of their light on the outside, and that expends a lot of energy.  Every day is made of equal parts of light and darkness. Darkness tells us what light is. It defines and delineates it. You can not have one without the other.  Black sheep…  White sheep…  Do you know what I call them?” the Shepherdess asked. 

Flash just looked at her and waited for the answer. 

“Sheep.  I must go now, but I will be watching over you.”

As Flash watched, she faded from his view, and her words echoed in his mind. It’s not a bad thing at all.