Microfiction Day 307 – ‘Aim High’

“What do you think we could reach if we climbed that ladder?”

They craned their necks up at the same time.

“An apple from the tree!”

A snort of derision. “Aim higher!”

“The top of the house?”

“Higher!”

“I’ll reach the clouds!”

“Higher!”

“I’m going to reach the stars!”

* 
Thirty-eight years later she looked at the earth from the Cupola and remembered the childhood friend who had told her to aim higher. She reached for the vial at her throat and pressed her lips against it, a dusting of ashes inside.

“We did it Luca. We’ve reached the stars.”