“There is more out there in the world for us to discover. The destinations and the journeys that we shall go, we will be together. Isn’t that what you want? There is a future written in the stars that is destined for us. We believe in the stars because that is how we met. Our stars collided, we collided helping us to realise what we adore. We collided to have a future that is meant for us,” I say facing Jackson waiting for his response patiently.

“I don’t believe in the stars,” he says shrugging my head off from his shoulder.

“Then what exactly are you looking at?” I reply pointing my finger out to the night sky almost touching the firey aspect of the stars, that makes them burn bright through the night.

“Darkness, Liana.” I rise my chest up and sigh in frustration before I fiddle with my fingers, twisting them around together nervously. There is silence between us that is ripping us apart.

“Then what do you believe in?” I ask waiting for an answer that I expect. I need him to say that he believes in us which will slow down my heart from racing and calm the nasty thoughts that roam around my head. _He doesn’t love you. You’re unworthy. _I shake these off like he is doing with us.

“Religion,” Jackson says bluntly and his word pricks my heart up again, racing like mad trying to get these thoughts to throb against me. It hurts. I turn away and put my head down on my lap, trying to hide my face and the eyebrows of mine that are scrunched down, along with the redness around my eyes because of the moments I regret spending with Jackson.

“I want words of affirmation.” My voice may be a little muffled because it is covered by my shame. “I want you to say you love me without actually using the words.”

“How do you expect me to do that? I don’t know love.” I throw my head up before turning to face him. To face the man that is suddenly breaking me apart.

“You don’t know love?” I shout. “Then what do you call this? What do you call us?”

“Dating.”

“You’re a star, Jackson, that collided onto mine. You fell for my beauty, my shine, my everything. That is something you could say to me at least.”

“I am the wrong star that fell for you. I wasn’t meant to collide with you. I am the right person wrong time because I don’t know love. I’m sorry, I can’t do this anymore Liana. Stars or darkness, right? I’ll always choose the darkness.” Jackson walks away leaving me stunned, mouth gaping open to see him leaving and that my thoughts were true. He left. He doesn’t love me. I’m unworthy.

Stars or darkness? Stars. I’ll always choose stars, because I choose to see the good people and want them to shine through their darkness. But Jackson is choosing to stay there in the darkness of this night, not letting himself to shine. And I’m staying here under the black painted sky while he walks from my life, walking from my shine.