Not Missing… Just Hiding

Under The Night Sky — Episode 5

Photo by Dmitry Ratushny on Unsplash

Today, I came a little earlier.

I don’t know why… maybe I was excited, or maybe I just knew you’d come. I reached our place, looked up… and paused.

No moon.

I stood there confused for a second. Like, excuse me? We had a thing. A daily thing. You can’t just disappear like this.

The sky wasn’t dark though. It had this soft, unfinished light… as if evening and night were still negotiating. Stars were there, doing their tiny shining job, pretending nothing was missing.

But something was.

So I started searching.

I moved my eyes left. Nothing. Right. Still nothing.

At this point, I felt like an investigator in a very low-budget mystery. “Where did you go, Moon?” Did you take a day off? Was I too early? Or were you just… messing with me?

Then the clouds did something kind.

They shifted. Slowly. Like they were in on the joke.

And there… Ah! I caught you.

The moon was hiding behind them. Not gone. Just playing.

A quiet little game of hide and seek.

I smiled without meaning to. Because suddenly, it felt familiar.

And that’s when I thought of you.

You came today too, didn’t you? I knew you would. Even if you didn’t announce it. Even if you came quietly, like the moon — half visible, half hiding.

Watching the moon peek through the clouds reminded me of something old.

Childhood.

Those evenings when the only rule of hide and seek was honesty. Hiding behind curtains that didn’t fully cover you. Holding your breath, heart racing, trying not to laugh. Wanting to be found… but not too soon.

Did you play too? Do you remember that feeling?

That mix of excitement and fear? The joy of hiding. And the relief when someone finally said, “I see you.”

I think we never really outgrow that game.

Even now, we hide parts of ourselves. Behind smiles. Behind routines. Behind “I’m fine.”

And yet, we hope someone looks closely enough.

Tonight, the moon didn’t shine boldly. It didn’t stand alone in the sky. It let the clouds cover it a little.

This phase, a waxing crescent is still learning how to glow. Still growing. Still not ready to be fully seen.

And that’s okay.

Some days, we’re not meant to be obvious. Some days, just showing up… even partially is brave.

I’m glad you came today. Even if you came tired. Even if you came hiding something. Even if you stayed quiet.

We sat under a moon that played games, and a sky that waited patiently.

Tomorrow, the moon will show a little more of itself. Maybe you will too.

Either way… come back.

I’ll be here.🪄