Dead Stars

by Paz Marquez Benitez


Here's one of my favorite short stories in Philippine Literature. Click here for the complete story.

Some of my favorite lines

"Mystery--" she answered lightly, "that is so brief--"

"Not in some," quickly. "Not in you."

"You have known me a few weeks; so the mystery."

"I could study you all my life and still not find it."

"So long?"

"I should like to."

And finally... The last part, also my favorite...

The young moon had set, and from the uninviting cot he could see one half of a star-studded sky.

So that was all over.

Why had he obstinately clung to that dream?

So all these years--since when?--he had been seeing the light of dead stars, long extinguished, yet seemingly still in their appointed places in the heavens.

An immense sadness as of loss invaded his spirit, a vast homesickness for some immutable refuge of the heart far away where faded gardens bloom again, and where live on in unchanging freshness, the dear, dead loves of vanished youth.

If I'm Not Vain

If I'm not vain, I would have saved a lot of money by now. Moisturizers, toners, cleansers, bath gel, bath salt, body lotions (I have 7 different brands right now), body scrub, eye cream, face creams, sunblock, foundations (liquid, panstick, powder), eyeshadow (different colors), eye liner, mascara (lengthening, thickening, waterproof), cheek blush (cream, powder, tint, gel -- every single blush that comes out), lipsticks, lipgloss/lacquer, lip tint, lip balm, concealer, perfume, foot scrub, pumice stone, foot lotion, nail polish, haircuts (Propaganda or Basement Salon), hair treatments, massages, body peeling, eyelash perming, hair products (PhytoSpecific, Kerastase, etc). Whew! And oh.. I forgot to mention my regular visits to my dermatologist, plus the products I get from her.

If I'm not vain, I could save a lot of money in the future. Diamond peel or maybe microdermabrasion, laser hair removal, liposuction, lipodissolve, breast augmentation, butt injections, regular skin care treatments, Obagi system, and more make-up.

But who cares about saving money?*

I'm so vain.

That's me. Vanity is my favorite sin.



*Selfish mode switch is on.