Disclaimer: Everything from hp books belongs to JK Rowling
Under the Stars
Can you tell me how many stars are in the sky?
Millions. Billions. Infinity. How many grains of sand fill a beach? How many wars have torn their way through the world? How many hearts have broken over the centuries? How many souls have despaired of finding heaven?
She's shivering and although her fingertips feel warm where he's touching her, the rest of her body can't get warm. Her finger tips tingle, but her lips are frozen from the air. Out of the corner of her eye, she can see him breathing. A light mist that quickly disappears up into the sky. His eyes are glass, she can tell, shards of golden crystal that glitter in the moonlight.
Her heart thuds, and she can no longer look above. She can no longer look at his face. It hurts, so much, this world that they have all been forced to live within.
How many tears have been cried since the Universe was created? How many lovers have looked into each other's eyes and whispered goodbye? How many romances have ended before they ever began?
If they were lovers, they would be making love right now. Slow and special as they lay together under the bejeweled sky. His fingers would set fire to her entire body. Her lips would suck the breath out of his lungs. Hot gasps as the words I love you are flung within the mess. They would hold each other and whisper about passion. They would shiver with lust as the grass tickles their backs. They would look into each other eyes and see the world as it is meant to be.
Can you, James? Can you?
A year ago, maybe more, he would have pulled her into his lap, taken her finger within his hand, and counted each star for her until her laughter warmed the air. He would have kissed her neck, tickled her under the moon, and when he had her pinned to the ground, he would have smiled and told her that he could do anything.
A year ago, she was sixteen and life felt perfect.
How many orphans have awoken in the night to find their world lost in life's debris?
James?
He turns towards her and looks so young that she's frightened. She has never seen him so vulnerable. She could never believe he could ever look so lost.
Not him. Not James.
She looks into his eyes, cold eyes, scared eyes, and as his lips slowly part she already knows what he will say. She can feel it in his stare. She can hear it in the wind sweeping through her hair. Her eyes close, and a single tear falls down her cheek.
No
He says this, and wipes away her tear with a soft touch. Somewhere far away, a dog barks and a wolf howls, and she can almost feel their pain.
A star falls from the sky when her eyes open, and when he kisses her, her lips cannot get warm.
End