I stand numbly in the freezing air. The cold wind taunts me, brushing my skin with the sting of winter. My cheeks must be red, irritated. The sky might be beautiful, moonlight cast through the bare branches above, if I was looking at anything. But I’m not, really. I’m not looking at anything. My body belongs to a faded statue, rooted to the ground in the middle of the night. I feel the snow throw its weight over me, over the ground, over the barren dirt and my stone shoulders. The night stands still as I wait, alone. Wait for something to take me away. Tell me that it’s okay. I wait for the world to stop turning, to do anything that would resemble the way it is inside my chest. The way my fingers are stiff at the side of my leg. I don’t move, but it keeps on. The wind keeps turning. The snow keeps falling so gently that I want to scream and tear it down out of the sky, but I don’t. I roll my gray eyes to the clouds and stare at nothing.

Droplets of water cascaded down the window pane, each droplet seeming to have a race with another. Her eyes were fixed on the white cross in the window as she tried to push down her feelings. Nothing could have prepared her for the waves of emotions that attacked her heart repeatedly. “It’s like I was nothing to him.” Violet choked out through the uneasy breaths. Tyler sat silently next to Violet as he did his best to keep her company. Everything in him ached to give her a hug but he didn’t want to push her over the edge, more than she already had been. Tyler simply nodded his head in some sort of understanding. “Like how could he even do this to me?! I had been so good to him. I did everything right, made all the meals for him when he asked, treated him with respect and kindness… and this is what I get?!” Violet’s voice cracked as images danced around her head of her now ex-partner with another woman. “I don’t know V, what I do know is that he is a horrible man and apparently a blind one at that,” Tyler huffed. Earlier that day, William ended their year and a half relationship over a foolish reason. Violet couldn’t wrap her head around what she did wrong. William had told her that he wasn’t happy with her anymore and found her repulsing- that she didn’t have a model shaped body… whatever that meant. Shortly after her world crashed down, she called her best friend, Tyler. He had always been there for her regardless of the situation- always reliable. “Thank you Ty… I just don’t understand…” Her defeated mutters were no more than a mere whisper as tears soon blended in with the beads of water on the window, each one racing to the finish line. The young woman scooted towards Tyler and leaned her head on his shoulder. She just needed a hug or some type of physical touch to ground her. Her arms hung around Tyler’s waist, her mind clouded with emotions. He cracked a small smile and held her tight, finally knowing it had been okay to hold her. Violet inhaled deeply, trying to calm her nerves and heart down. Earthy and musky scents greeted her nose and slowly her nerves began to unwind. Tyler hummed softly and rubbed small circles on her back, something he had done anytime she got upset. “Hey… V?” “Yea?” “Can I be honest with you?” A small nod had been the only response. “It pains me to see you like this and I care about you deeply…. Nevermind today is not the day I need to say this. Are you sleepy?” Tyler sighed. “Huh… oh sorta I guess. Today has been long,” Violet nuzzled his chest. This is where she felt the safest- in the arms of her best friend. Her fingers fumbled with the bottom of his shirt which helped to ground her to the intimate moment. Tyler pulled her off of him and guided her back to her beige pillow. He pulled her white comforter over her body before he got up to turn off the bedside lights. Violet didn’t take her eyes off of him. A twinge of something pulled at her heart, almost as if to tell her something- only she was too exhausted to pay attention to it. The moonlight luminated the room and casted shadows along the walls. Tyler sat on the edge of the bed next to Violet as he hummed a small tune to her. Her eyelids began to grow heavy with tiredness and fighting it had been very difficult. “Don’t worry… I’m not going anywhere Violet, I’ll be right here when you wake up.” Tyler’s gentle voice trailed after her as she met the dreamscape waiting for her.

the moon shining there all a gloom

When I exited the clearing, I was met with the strangest, most exquisite sight I had ever seen. At first, I thought the light beyond the river was coming from a hut, but then I realised the light was, in fact, a figure. A girl kneeling on the forest floor beyond the river. At least, that was where I thought she was. But no, she was sitting on top of the water, her red and white robe spread out and floating delicately on the water’s surface.

The expression she wore mirrored the surprise of my own.

For a moment, neither of us moved. Was she a ghost? Despite the white glow, I was certain she was, in fact, corporeal. I blinked, and suddenly, she was gone from the river, peering around a nearby tree like a kid playing hide-and-seek. The river was still rippling, the only indication that she had, in fact, been sitting on its surface only moments before.

Watching her long white hair flowing in the windless night brought me back to my original conclusion: She must be a ghost. She watched me carefully, and I decided to sit along the river bank and watch her back. I didn’t want the moment to end, for whatever dream I was having to disappear into the night. That, and I still wasn’t sure what exactly I was looking at.

She stepped, not glided, I noted, out from behind the tree and walked towards the river. When she reached it, she carried on walking. Each delicate step like a skipped stone on the river’s surface.

As she drew closer, I realised her white hair wasn't at all indicative of her age, and she appeared to be as curious of me as I was of her. It was plain to see in her big, bright blue eyes.

Soon, she was standing only a couple of feet in front of me. I stood up just as she sat down, and when I sat, she stood.

I stood up again.

“Are you a ghost?”

“A what, sorry?” she asked in a voice as clear as day. So much threw me off in that moment.

“A-Are you a ghost? You know… Dead. A spirit?”

“...No?”

She offered no further explanation, and I was too confused to say anything else.

“What’s your name?” I finally asked, cringing before the words even fully left my lips.

“Tsukiko,” she answered simply. “You’re somewhat…shorter than I expected. I wasn’t sure it was you,” she said after another awkward silence.

“What?” was apparently all I could manage to say.

She took a step forward, engulfing me in a powerful, radiant warmth. I noticed her feet were bare. She cocked her head as she peered at me. She grabbed my hand, turning my wrist upwards. The leaf tattoo glowed with a pulsating light. She must be connected to the crystal in the Luna cave I had found earlier. Had I set her free?

“It's you alright,” her soft voice broke me out of my reverie, and I became aware of how close she was. Instinctively, I took a step back, and she smiled and rose into the air.

“I’ll see you soon,” she said before floating higher and higher and finally disappearing in a flurry of pure white feathers that rained down around me. I didn’t remember seeing any wings.

I reached out to grab one of the feathers, a smile spreading across my face.

She’s perfect. And she will bring me all the fame I’ve ever dreamed of.

I was in an empty parking lot. The moon shone onto me. There were no street lights, just the moonlight. And me. I walked into the middle of the parking lot. I was in my pink Quinceanera dress. It was midnight, and I managed to escape with my dress for a bit. Since it was midnight, my birthday was yesterday. I started to dance, laughing with myself. This was was just what I needed. After a few minutes, I stopped to take a breath. Just out of the corner of my eye, I could see a 6 foot figure. I couldn’t see his face though. “Hey!” I yelled slowly approaching. He suddenly ran away. That was probably enough time outside alone. Atleast I thought I was alone. I ran back home hoping to never see him again.

I don’t understand why I’m doing this. I just feel like I need to talk to her, explain myself. I breath in, grabbing the cold door knob and entering the dark room.

The door squeaks as I step in. Laying on the hospital bed is a girl. The girl. Ever since the crash that I caused she’s been asleep.

I hold onto the edge of the door, resting my cheek on the rough wood. She looks so peaceful, like the princess in Sleeping Beauty. Only she’ll wake up to a tragic world, not a prince.

I sigh, letting go of the door and walking up to her. The only sound is a small machine beeping rhythmically on the side of the bed.

I hover over the end of the bed. The moon shines through the glass and directly onto her. Making her golden hair seem to glow.

I inch closer to her, afraid that she may wake up. I bet when she sees me she’ll know what I’ve done.

I lower myself into the chair that’s placed next to her. Scooting it, across the floor. It squeaks loudy, making me shut my eyes.

I keep my eyes closed trying to think of what I need to say. What I want to say. I’m sure she can’t hear me but maybe she can feel me. It’s a weird feeling but just because it feels strange doesn’t mean it’s not still there.

“I . . .” My voice cracks. “I’m sorry.” I mumble.

“I didn’t mean for this to happen.”

I stay silent for a few minutes like she’ll magically answer. Or apologize. Which is probably way farther off the charts then her recovering and waking up.

“I know you’re thinking that I’m a monster and I should be the one that died,” I pause, blinking tears away. “And I agree with you one hundred percent.”

I scoot the chair up to the edge of her bed, leaning down next to her. “This is crazy.” I mutter under my breath, my lips inches away from her ear. “But I’m going to make it up to you.”

I sit up striaght, my eyes falling down to her hand. It’s so pale, and almost lifeless.

I reach out, grabbing her hand and holding it tightly between mine.

“I’m not going to just pretend like I never crashed into you.” I put my other hand on hers, closing my eyes. “Because in a way I lost my life. I can’t be me anymore . . . Because I’ve changed, even though it’s only been a couple of days. I’ve changed.”

I sigh, as a single tear falls down my cheek. “I want to fix my mistake. And I can’t . . . I haven’t failed a math test or accidently broke my mom’s china. I’ve killed someone.” My voice tremebles as I look down at her hand. Rubbing my thumb across her knuckles.

“I’m not abandoning you.”

under the cover of the dark my skin bathed in pretty moonlight i closed his door behind me just as i did every night

his wife, she works the long shift leaving him alone with the moon but she doesn’t know that i’m there it’s something that i shouldn’t do

but you haven’t seen that man haven’t seen his way with words i’ve loved him all my life but they’ve been married for most of hers

he tells me she’s evil tells me he’d leave her if it weren’t for the kids and that wretched money fever

leave the perfume in the cabinet he bought me for my twenty third can’t take the risk she’d smell it oh, what lines we’ve blurred

but you haven’t seen my man i guess he’s not really mine but he’s led me to moral ambivalence each time we go out and dine

i have his affections i suppose but that woman i still envy she had him in the legal sense before i even turned twenty

while i go home and cry mascara running down my cheek their kids run to her oh, i feel so weak

but i wouldn’t have it any other way my waking days so listless it’s a long and lonely life being her man’s mistress

She was woven from the threads of moonlight

Pale skin, gleaming silver eyes, and cascading raven hair

She was the maiden of stars

Soaring across constellations with wings of glitter

But she was broken

Sitting in the depths of her home, the moon

Watching the world laid out before her like a bejeweled rug

She longed for love

For passion

She was lonely

It shimmered through the trees like a pool. Orla stood right in the middle of it. She turned her head up to the moon and smiled.

A rustle from a bush forced her to turn to it. Eilem emerged from it. He looked around and spotted Orla. He smiled wide.

“You actually came.” Orla breathed.

“Of course I did.” He laughed.

They met each other in the middle of the clearing. Orla placed her arms over Eilem’s shoulders and he moved his hands to hold her waist. Then they pressed their foreheads together and danced.

They danced all night. With no worry about being found. Because after all, they were in love.

I guess I’d forgotten how perfect her eyes were. And it’s only been a day. She’s so beautiful. “Jessie,” I say, she looks at me, tears staining her perfect face. Jess rolls her eyes, pulling the door shut. Before I can even get my thoughts together, I’m grabbing the side of the door and pulling it back out. “Jessie, please.” Jess shakes her head, “Cason, I was blind. And I fell in love with you. Only to find that it was you. . .You, Cason, you’re the one that killed my parents.” I’d hated myself for weeks after I drove my car into there’s. And when I got to know Jess, when I looked into her eyes for the first time. I couldn’t tell her I was the one, because I knew I was in love with her. “Jessie,” I whisper, “I never meant to hurt you. I’m sorry.” Jess steps out into the porch, “Cason, the worst part of this is, I’m hurting because of you. Not only because you killed my parents. But because I was falling for you.” I grab Jess’s hand, it’s warm against mine. And for some reason it gives me hope. Jess doesn’t fight me, she lets me pull her to the front lawn. I sit down and Jess sits next to me. I almost expect for her to lean her head against mine, but that was old times. Old memories. I look up into the night sky. Three stars are shinning down on us. Three people. “You know. I’ve always believed that when people die, they become stars,” I say, turning my head to look at Jess. She doesn’t say anything, but I don’t blame her. “Look,” I point up at the sky, “You see those three stars?” Jess follows my finger and nods. “Well I named them. That one to the right,” I point to the dimmest one, “I named Jenna. And the one next to it, I named Will.” Jess looks at me her pale eyes meeting mine for the first time in what’s felt like years, “My parents,” Jess’s voice is small, it reminds me of the day I first met her. She looked so pale, so tried. But then I saw her eyes and I couldn’t believe how beautiful she was. I knew I had to know her. I nod, “And the third one. I named after someone who’s still on earth. Who’s still alive.” Jess looks away, “You named it after me?” I shake my head, “No I named it Cason Winchester,” Jess turns to meet my eyes, “Because there’s already a star named Jessamy Fabray. And she’s brighter than all the stars up there.” Jess looks down hiding her perfect smile. I can’t keep my eyes off her, she’s so perfect. Jess looks up at me, “What?” She says. I smile, “I didn’t say anything.” Jess shakes her head, nudging my arm, “Why are you looking at me like that?” I look deep into Jess’s eyes, “Because your beautiful.” Jess rolls her eyes, laughing, “I’m not beautiful,” she points up at the stars, “The stars are though.” I shake my head, “Your brighter than all those stars. I can’t even see them, that’s how bright you are.” Jess’s smile fades, as looks away, “Cason, I can’t.” “Well I can,” I whisper, “I can.” Jess shakes her head, “Cason, I think that before. When I was blind, I think that I loved you. But now whenever I look at you, I see the person that killed my parents.” Jess stands up wiping her tears away, “I’m sorry.” I stand up grabbing Jess’s wrist, I pull her towards me, throwing our faces inches apart. Jess stands still, her eyes lingering on mine. “Can I kiss you?” I ask. I can see it in Jess’s eyes, I can see she wants this. She wants us. Jess shakes her head, “No.” I let her pull away from me. And by the time she’s at her front door, I wish I hadn’t let her go. I shut my eyes, it was too much. Naming the stars. Too much, maybe she’d still be here if I hadn’t made such a scene.

I feel Jess’s warm hands on my face, “Thank you,” Jess whispers, “For everything.” I nod, wishing that if I’d just looked where I was driving, maybe I wouldn’t have killed her parents. “Don’t stop,” Jess whispers, pulling her hands away, “Don’t give up on me.” Then just like always before I can even begin to think, the front door is closed and I’m left alone in the dark night. “I won’t,” I whisper into the night.