Polaris

I once came across the words, "When people die, they become stars"-
perhaps in a film or a book I read as a child.
That single phrase has stayed deep within my heart ever since.

More recently, through a book, I learned that in ancient times-before compasses or maps existed-people relied on the North Star to guide their journeys.
Unwavering in the night sky, it served as a beacon, showing travelers a sure direction no matter how far they wandered.

In that moment, the words "When people die, they become stars" and the image of the North Star suddenly overlapped within me.
When we lose someone dear, perhaps their presence-though no longer visible-remains as a guiding light, a steadfast point of reference when we must walk through the darkness.

Just as the North Star once became the compass for travelers.