Mini Planetarium

We sat on the bed going over all the pictures of the night sky at the national park. Jaki had a surprisingly large collection of them.

I suspect that she probably was also a big fan of this place. Which to be fair the national park at least from what I have seen from the pictures is super awesome.

"Hey look isn't that the southern cross?"

I point at one corner of an image showing the night sky.

Jaki squints her eyes and looks closer at the image.

"Oh yeah I think so. Though the image quality is a bit low. I'm surprised you spotted it."

"Not to brag but I'm actually pretty good with constellations. I know most of em by heart."

This seemed to piques Jaki's interest as she asked me a follow up question.

"I see. Are you big into astronomy?"

"Actually not really haha."

"Huh, then how do you know about all the constellations?"

"Hehe, I'll show you."

My response seemed to have further piqued Jaki's interest as she now looks at my eagerly, awaiting the answer.

I rummage through my drawers to find my prized possession, my mini planetarium that I got from my parents on my birthday when I was a kid.

According to my parents I was obsessed with the stars at night and constantly asked my parents questions about them.

So they got me a mini planetarium to satisfy all my curiosities.

"Ta da!"

I take it out, holding it in front of Jaki to show it off.

Jaki however only seems to be more confused.

"What is this?"

"I'll show you. Its a mini planetarium."

I proceed to close the lights and plug in my planetarium.

Jaki looks with amazement as the ceiling is now lit up with thousands of tiny stars. Forming constellations after constellations.

Jaki's eyes follows them as the stars rotate around the room.

I plop down back on the bed and lie down in order to see the celling better.

Jaki also followed suit and lied down next to me.

"Cool isn't it."

"Yeah... This is nice."

For a while we just both stare in silence at the celling. Enjoying the faux night sky as if it was the real thing.

"There's southern cross."

I point to the stars that forms southern cross on the celling.

"Well this one is definitely much clearer than the ones in the pictures."

I giggle at Jaki's response.

For the next few minutes I point out all the locations of the constellations that Jaki asks for. From Scorpio to Gemini, Leo to Cassiopeia.

"What about that cluster of stars."

Jaki points to a cluster at the corner of the ceiling and turns to face me. I look over at the cluster and then back to Jaki.

For once I'm trumped. I'm pretty sure that is just a random cluster of stars.

"I don't think that one has a name."

I replied to Jaki.

"Ooo. In that case I'll name it, since I discovered it."

"I'll call it Sanki!"

It took me a second to realize but once I did I couldn't help but to burst out laughing.

"Come on surely the name isn't that bad is it?"

For once it was Jaki on the side of being defensive.

"No no I love the name! It just sounds a bit silly is all haha."

"Like it just rolls off the tongue a little bit weird."

"Sanki, Sanki, Sanki!"

I repeat the name to make my point and it seems like make my point I did.

Because now Jaki has also joined me in my laughter. We giggle and laugh as the Sanki constellation rotates around the room.

Probably feeling a little bit self conscious as its creator laughs at its name.

After a while the laughter dies off. And its just Jaki and I staring into each others eyes both in our own little world.

I feel a sense of nerves but unlike before I also feel a sense of ease and comfort looking at Jaki. I can see my own reflection within her eyes.

Jaki smiles gently and I smile back in return. We both just take in this moment before turning back to staring at the ceiling.

For the reminder of our little planetarium session we don't say anything.

Its just us and the mini universe on my ceiling and I wouldn't have it any other way.