"A Fallen Star" by Mia B

In a particular universe, the same but so different from ours, most stars died, blooming as they lost light, their core getting colder and colder, turning into stardust and nothingness.  But some stars fell.  They fell with great intensity, staining the darkness around them with their own unique and bright colors, until they eventually landed, leaving blaze and destruction after them. It was the only trace left of them. 

One star, beautiful and brighter than the rest, beaming at those who laid eyes upon it when it was visible in the night sky, had fell.  It's shine had not faded, gleaming and glittering and never losing any of its past beauty.  It had landed on this universe’s equivalent of Earth, and the flames consumed the planet, burning so hot and intense that no one had dared to even lay their eyes directly upon it for fear of being blinded.

Centuries after the incident of the fallen star, a floating city was built overlooking the lost planet that was still burning.  A young boy, with wide eyes desperately taking everything it could reach and a jaw permanently dropped with awe and curiosity, lived at the edge of this floating city.  Every night, after working, the boy would climb atop the short wall separating his home and the edge of the city, looking down with an insatiable inquisitiveness, dying to know what life was like down below, as the planet was permanently covered by what appeared to be thick, dark clouds. His sister always pulled him back and yelled at him whenever she caught him trying to climb the wall, saying that it was forbidden. He didn’t understand; how dangerous could it possibly be?

So for years the boy had planned out his grand adventure.  A slightly torn satchel full of essential items, such as his favorite yet worn-out doll that just had to come see the unknown with him with its one button eye; a small, used sketchpad with a few pages left along with a few colored pencils so he could draw what he saw and show them proudly to his sister; and a cozy but ragged blanket to sleep in during the cold nights during his trip. All were stored quietly in the corner of his room, waiting patiently for the day it would finally be used. He saved up diligently for the highest quality, 75 cent journal so he could keep track of all his adventures in a neat place.

A few months later, in the middle of a dark night that was illuminated solely by the stars, the boy gathered his satchel, stuffing his newly bought journal inside of it, and hastily put it on.  He climbed up his backyard wall as he always did, and looked down with curiosity as he always did.  However, this time, he was filled with excitement that ran up and down his body and a thirst for adventure.  His smile was brighter than all the stars in the night sky.

Then with that same bright smile, he fell.