Our Wedding Day

Once upon a time, in a solar system that is *so* so far away from here that you wouldn't believe me if I told you, were two planets.

Their names were Yee and Lan, and they loved each other very much. Every time they saw each other they would whisper planet secrets, or share wisps of atmosphere, or tell silly jokes that caused them to shake with continent-sized giggles.

But they were a little sad, because it was *so* long between times that they got to be near each other, what with orbital mechanics being what they are and all.  Most of the time they had to gaze from afar, and make up little songs about the stars and the cold and the one that they loved.

Centuries went by, and one time as they passed, reaching out through the cold and emptiness to be with one another, Yee slipped Lan a moon, because Yee had three and Lan had none. Lan looked so perfect with the new moon that all the other planets were a little jealous, and Yee didn't mind giving up that moon at all.

So the planets kept on dancing to the math-music of the universe, and Lan's moon was admired by all, until one day an evil-minded ice-hearted comet viciously slammed into it, shattering it into a thousand thousand pieces.

At that time, Yee was all the way on the other side of the sun and couldn't hear the wails and shouts that rocked Lan through and through.

All the nearby planets, who were jealous anyway, made fun of Lan.  Lan was so ashamed of what had happened to the moon, so generously given by Yee, that Lan began to dread their next meeting.

But the old equations had their say, and after so long they were together again.  Lan was almost afraid to look at Yee, but Yee reached out a wisp of atmosphere in comfort. Yee hesitated a minute, because all planets know how beautiful moons are, but then went ahead and smashed the two remaining moons together so that Lan would have no reason to be feel bad.

So around and around they went, so very much in love that they thought they would burst, even though they looked a little bare, and felt a little cold without their lovely moons.

But then, something beautiful happened- their shimmering bits of moon dust started to flatten out, and make two large circles, one for each of them. And before too long, the circles became rings, great big wonderful rings, sparkling in the pure sunlight, the wonder of that solar system, and some said even the galaxy. The other planets were too awed by Yee and Lan's new beauty to feel even the slightest drop of jealousy.

And that is why, even on this planet, when two people have strong feelings for each other, so much love that they think they'll burst, sometimes they'll give each other rings, in memory of the planetary love of Yee and Lan.