Marcus's little ship was the smallest in the whole quiet corner of the galaxy. It was the color of midnight, with a yellow stripe down one side, and the dashboard had only three buttons because Marcus didn't need any more than that.
Tonight he was looking for a sleepy star.
Stars get sleepy sometimes, like everyone else. When they do, they need someone to gently say goodnight so they can close their eyes and rest. Most stars take care of themselves. But one — a small blue star at the edge of the sky — had been forgotten lately. It was so far out that the other stars couldn't reach it. So Marcus had volunteered.
His ship hummed softly through the velvet dark. Comets stretched past like long ribbons. A purple planet waved with its rings. Marcus waved back, polite.
The little blue star came into view. It was flickering — too tired to glow steadily, but not yet asleep. Its light shivered.
Marcus pulled his ship closer. It was the smallest ship next to the smallest tired star, and he was not afraid. Sometimes brave isn't loud. Sometimes brave is the quiet thing that goes when no one else can.
"Hello," Marcus said, into the ship's microphone. "I came to say goodnight."
The little star pulsed once, soft.
Marcus reached out with the ship's tiny lantern arm. He held the lantern close to the star — not too close, just close enough that the little star could feel him there.
"You can rest," he whispered. "I'll wait."
The star blinked slowly, like a sleepy eye.
Marcus told it about the things he had seen on the way: comets like ribbons, a purple planet with rings, the way the dark felt like a soft enormous blanket. He talked very gently. The star pulsed slower. Slower.
Then it dimmed all the way, and was quiet. Asleep. A faint warm blue at the edge of the sky.
Marcus turned his ship back toward home. He had done a small, good thing in a very large place.
In the cockpit, the dashboard lights softened. The hum of the engines slowed to a hum like a cat's purr. Marcus leaned back in his chair. His head was heavy.
By the time he reached his bed — the small bed in the small room of the small ship — he was already half asleep. The galaxy out his window wrapped itself softly around him. A star, somewhere far behind, was sleeping deeply.
So was Marcus.