A Wish
Diana wiped away the tears as she looked up. She was waiting, waiting for the stars.
It was late summer. The night was warm, but the breeze coming off the dark ocean was cold enough to make her shiver. She hugged herself. The water kept lapping against the shore, entirely unconcerned at how lost she felt.
The others didn't know how much she barely holding on. She kept up a brave face for them. They needed her to be strong, but they couldn't see how much pain she really felt.
The stars.
She kept looking for the first star of the night. She was thinking of Kosar. She couldn't forget him.
Two years.
It had been two years since Kosar had died. No, he didn't die. He went home. Home to the stars.
"Diana, are you all right?"
Not now, Eric.
"Go away, Eric!" she said. "I'm really not in the mood. I'm sure you can harrass one of the others for a while."
"You don't need to bite my head off. I'm just bringing you something to eat," he said irritably. "Sheila asked me to."
He sat down the plate, and turned to walk back to the others.
"I'm sorry," she mumbled.
There was a long silence.
"Apology accepted," he said.
Diana nearly jumped. She thought that she was alone. She thought that Eric had gone back to their campsite. She was so surprised that she wasn't angry that he had stood there, without so much as a word. The usual sarcasm was gone from his voice entirely.
"Eric, I need some time alone," she said quickly. She was surprised that she answered honestly, but she was uncertain of what do or say with the absence of Eric's normally abrasive nature.
He nodded.
She watched him, until he turned to leave. "I'm sorry," he said over his shoulder.
"What?"
"I'm sorry. About Kosar."
"Just leave it alone, Eric," she snapped.
Eric shrugged.
Eric the jerk is back.
"Hate me if you want to," he said, "but you have to let him go."
"Mind your own business! I'd expect this from Sheila, but you too? What would you know about it?"
"Not much, but I know what it is like lose someone you care about, what it is like to be alone. You have to let him go, and start living. Did you think we didn't notice? We are your friends. We care. I care."
She stared at him. She didn't know what to say.
"I didn't know," she whispered. "I don't know...how to let him go."
She sat down on the beach and started crying. Suddenly, the mask she always kept between herself and the others crumbled. She started crying and couldn't stop.
Even Eric knew her well enough that he could see through her.
How or when it happened, she never knew, but Eric was there, sitting next to her as she cried on his shoulder.
They talked for a long time then, about the last few years, about everything that happened to both of them. The one time that she had let her guard down, had let herself care, Kosar died. She always kept her distance to be safe. Eric kept his family fortune between himself in the world. They were more alike than different. They were both afraid.
"Don't tell the others about this," she said.
"Not a word. I promise," he agreed.
Diana stared at him for the second time. It was the same quiet tone he used before. No sarcasm. Nothing. She looked into his eyes, and she believed him. He wouldn't say anything.
"I want to forget, but I can't," she admitted.
"Don't try," he said simply. "Just remember, I'm here. We are all here."
"I used to make a wish when I saw the stars."
"I made a wish on the stars once."
She grimaced. "I don't believe in wishes anymore," she said sourly.
She was shocked when Eric took her hand and held it. He looked at her, and smiled gently. For the first time in two years, she wasn't alone. She never had been alone.
"I do. Mine came true."