A Dream Beyond the Sky

The Vignette Gazette Edition #200 | Laugh, Cry

Today’s challenge for writing a vignette is to use the words ‘Laugh & Cry’ with a twist — pick a nursery rhyme, lullaby or whatever you call it from any source, and use it in your story in some way.

Image by Author from Gemini Ai

“Twinkle, twinkle, little star, How I wonder what you are, Up above the world so high, Like a diamond in the sky,”

I found myself singing as I stared at the beautiful night sky from my college dorm roof.

“You’re still singing that nursery rhyme?” my friend joked.

“Screw off,” I said. “I listen to other music too. But this one’s a little special. You know that.”

He glanced at me for a moment, then took out a cigarette and lit it. Smoke drifted from the glowing orange tip.

“I’ve always wanted to ask,” he said. “You always sing it. I know it means something to you. I didn’t want to ask, since I thought you wouldn’t want to talk about it.”

I looked at him. He tapped the cigarette, letting the ashes fall onto the concrete.

“It’s not that big of a deal,” I said, looking back at the sky. “You know my mother passed away when I was really little, right?”

“Yeah.”

“She used to sing this to me whenever we watched the stars together. Ever since then, I’ve always been fascinated by the sky and what lies beyond that endless vastness.”

A solemn yet happy smile crossed my face.

My friend stayed silent.

“I would always ask her, ‘Can I go to the stars too?’ And she’d always say yes,” I continued. “Those words still echo in my mind… So I guess that’s why I still sing it.”

“So that’s why you wanted to become an astronaut, huh?” he said, crushing the cigarette butt against the concrete with his shoe.

He tapped my shoulders.

“Well, you’ve been working hard. And I know you’ll get there.” He paused. “While chasing the stars above, just don’t forget to look around you once in a while, too.”

I blinked, then burst out laughing.

“Yeah, yeah…” I said. “Look who’s giving advice. You know you’ll flunk next week’s test if you don’t start studying now. Don’t come crying to me later.”

“Shit. Way to spoil the mood, you idiot,” he said. “Even after I gave you such brilliant advice, too.”

“Yeah, that’s exactly why I reminded you. I don’t want my dear friend to fail,” I said with a mocking laugh.

“Argh, I’m going to sleep,” he grumbled, waving his hand as he headed downstairs.

I smiled as he disappeared into the building. Then I looked up at the stars once more and sang softly,

“Twinkle, twinkle, little star, How I wonder what you are…”

Thank you so much for reading. Today’s Vignette is inspired by the daily prompt by Robbi Walls :

[embed]The Vignette Gazette Edition #200 | laugh, cry For Tuesday, July 7, 2026medium.com

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RMW