The next morning, Mik stumbled into the kitchen, their bare feet cold against the worn linoleum floor. They froze at the doorway, the hair on their arms rising at the tension in the air. Their parents sat at the kitchen table, faces illuminated by the soft blue glow of the news feed, coffee growing cold in their mugs.

"Reports of strange atmospheric disturbances continue to pour in from around the globe," the anchor was saying, her carefully neutral tone belying the excitement in her eyes. "Scientists are baffled by these phenomena, which have been described as 'shimmering circles' or 'ripples in the sky'."

Suddenly, a video filled the screen. There it was - a perfect circle of light pulsing in the sky, exactly like what Mik and Alex had seen yesterday. The recording had a slight shake to it, as if the person filming could barely contain their excitement.

"That's it!" Mik exclaimed, their voice cracking with emotion. "That's what we saw yesterday!"

Alex, who had just wheeled himself into the kitchen, his pajamas rumpled from sleep, nodded vigorously. The wheels of his chair made a soft squeaking sound against the floor - they'd need oiling soon, but that was another expense they couldn't afford. "See? We told you!"

Jenn and Michael exchanged worried glances, the morning light casting shadows under their eyes. "You really did see something," Jenn murmured, her voice a mix of awe and maternal concern.

"What do you think it means?" Michael asked, absently stirring his cold coffee, the spoon making tiny whirlpools in the dark liquid.

Before anyone could answer, the news anchor continued: "Experts are divided on the cause of these disturbances. Some suggest they might be related to climate change, while others propose more exotic explanations, including extraterrestrial activity."

The kitchen fell silent, each family member lost in their own thoughts about the implications of this news. The only sound was the gentle hum of the refrigerator and the distant song of morning birds.

At school, the hallways buzzed with excited chatter. The familiar scent of floor cleaner and chalk dust mixed with an electric energy as students huddled in groups, phones out, sharing videos of the phenomena. Mik caught snippets of conversation as they made their way to their locker:

"My cousin in Australia saw one!"

"Do you think it's the government testing some new technology?"

"What if it's a sign of the apocalypse?"

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The metal of their locker felt cool under Mik's fingers as they dialed the combination. Jasmine rushed up, her bracelets jingling, the scent of her cherry blossom perfume cutting through the usual school smells. "Is it true? Did you really see one of those sky circles?"

Mik nodded, recounting the experience from Alex's birthday outing. The memory felt sharper now, more significant. They described the way the light had pulsed, how it had seemed to ripple with its own inner energy, the strange sense of peace they'd felt while watching it.

"What do you think it means?" Jasmine asked when Mik finished, her dark eyes wide with curiosity.

Mik hesitated, then said with a half-smile, "Maybe it's aliens coming to help us."

Jasmine laughed, but it was tinged with nervousness. "Or maybe they're coming to invade. What if the atmosphere is breaking down and we're all going to die?"

"I don't think that's it," Mik said, trying to sound more confident than they felt. "Whatever it is, it doesn't seem harmful. Just... strange."

Throughout the day, Mik noticed teachers struggling to keep students focused on lessons. Even Mr. Reeves, usually strict about staying on topic, spent half of science class discussing possible explanations for the phenomena. The chalk dust swirled in the sunbeams streaming through the windows, making Mik think of the shimmering circle they'd seen.

During lunch, the cafeteria hummed with theories and speculation. The usual smell of overcooked vegetables and mystery meat was barely noticeable as Mik found themselves at the center of attention, recounting their sighting to a group of eager listeners. It was an unusual feeling, being the focus of positive attention rather than the occasional target of bullying.

After school, as Mik walked home, they noticed people on the streets looking up more often, as if expecting to see another shimmering circle at any moment. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows, and the air felt different somehow - charged with anticipation and a touch of fear.

At home, they found Alex glued to the tablet, the blue light of the screen reflecting off his pale face as he scrolled through social media posts about the sky phenomena.

"Look, Mik!" he said excitedly, his voice stronger than it had been in weeks. "People are sharing all kinds of theories. Some think it's a message from another dimension!"

Mik sat next to their brother, both of them poring over the flood of information and speculation. Despite the potential seriousness of the situation, Mik couldn't help but feel a thrill of excitement. For the first time in a long while, the world seemed full of mystery and possibility.

That night, as Mik lay in bed, they pulled out their sketchbook. The pages whispered softly as they turned to a fresh sheet. Under the warm glow of their desk lamp, they began to draw. Circles of light filled the pages, surrounded by stars and swirling galaxies. In one corner, they sketched a small figure looking up at the sky in wonder -- a self-portrait of sorts, capturing not just what they'd seen, but how it had made them feel.

Before turning out the light, Mik sent a quick message to Cayde:

StarGazer101: Did you see the news about the sky phenomena? What do you think it means?

They fell asleep before getting a response, their dreams filled with shimmering circles and the vast, unknown reaches of space. The last thing they remembered thinking was how the world suddenly felt bigger, more mysterious, and somehow more hopeful than it had just a day ago.