Watching the Northern Lights from Ohio

In May, the news said a giant solar storm might push the northern lights much farther south than usual. I didn't believe it. I live in Ohio. We don't get auroras.

At eleven p.m., my neighbor banged on my door in her pajamas. "Look up!" she said. "Look up right now!"

The whole sky was glowing pink and green, rippling like curtains. I'd only ever seen photos. People came out of every house on our street, holding phones and blankets and sleeping kids. Somebody's grandpa, eighty-something, said he'd waited his whole life to see this.

We stood in the middle of the road for two hours, oohing like we were at fireworks. I didn't sleep that night. I didn't want to. Some nights the universe sends you a postcard, and you just have to stand outside and read it.