1 Prologue

-"... Nejmeh, a child blessed by the gods of Abian, was perceived as a danger for the concubine of the Haan and her offsprings. Taking advantage of the recent demise of the first wife, the concubine declared that Nejmeh was the cause of misfortunes and death would surely arrive for those who surround her".-After a brief pause, mother started narrating again- "people among the household felt afraid of their future and the uncertainty of the consequences if they kept the newborn under the same ceilings, living with them. Therefore, they started to perform riots and the commotions could be heard even from the Hari palace, measures had to be taken, and since murdering a child was condemned with the extermination of the clan, the only solution available was getting rid of her by other means. The Haan, equally superstitious as the rest, decided to send Nejmeh to a women tribe that lived in the Ijit forest of Heran. Once in the forest, Nejmeh was secluded in a petite Mahal in the deepest part of the woodland, considered as an outcast by the tribe, Nejmeh was poorly taken care of and once she reached adulthood she was left alone, oblivious to the outer world. Nejmeh could barely speak and even if she tried to communicate she was evaded by the rest of the populace, without being able of providing herself with any kind of nutrients, she started to starve and slowly, in front of the indifferent gazes of the women, her life was reaching the end. Being incapable to stand the hunger, she fed herself plants she encountered in the forest. Unfortunately, the herbs she ate were poisonous and in a matter of days, Nejmeh was found dead between centenary trees and withered flowers. The people of the tribe did not dare to approach the corpse of their biggest fear, thus Nejmeh was alone even in her last breaths, her life ended in the same way it started. The gods, feeling guilty of how the innocent life they blessed, ended in such cruel ways, decided to fill the night sky with luminous and everlasting circular forms, which they named Nejmeh, a creation that was unapproachable and breathtaking, a creation that was used as a guide by travellers, a creation that received prayers of those who felt lost and that those who were well versed used between love promises and lines that described ethereal and faraway regions."-By the last sentence, I already felt my senses drifting away.

-Why did they do that to Nejmeh, Mom?-I asked while feeling my eyes closing, falling asleep slowly.

-Because the people around her did believe in a deception created by the concubine who felt threatened, a threat created by her thoughts.- I could hear my mom reply -The story of Nejmeh is an example of how our fears can blind us until we can not differentiate between the real truth and conjectures, and the fatal consequences of it, now my little star is time to sleep- Stated mother, and after kissing my forehead she left my bed.

-Mom, if the story of Nejmeh was so sad, why did you name me after her ?-By hearing my question, mom stopped by the door.

-Because just like the gods created the stars and named them Nejmeh intending to give guidance and hope for those in need of it, you are my star, and just like the stars in the night sky, you fill my life with hope and aim, my Nejmeh- Hearing the softly spoken explanation, I fell asleep, just wishing to hear the rest of the stories narrated by mom.

Haan: Prime minister