Prologue

All children grow old, except those in Neverland. But growing up is quite interesting, as it can come too early for some and never at all for others. The latter of which are always haunted by things they feared when they were young, having never grown up to know how to deal with them. Like a fear of the dark, and what lie within it.

Even in a place like New York City, where the cars never stopped clogging the roads and neon lights flashed even during daylight hours, George never thought the apartment looked so dark.

He'd awoken in cold sweat, his ginger locks stuck to his neck and forehead. His racing heart and heavy breathing only added to the perspiration.

He dreamt of shadows. He dreamt of the pipes, those that haunted his heart but that he hadn't heard since he was a boy. George dreamt of promises he'd yet to keep.

His girlfriend had left already, probably back to her place to get new clothes. They had been talking about moving in together for some time, but had yet to make it official. Her absence made the darkness of the 3 am night feel all the more foreboding.

Then he saw it…

...Or, he thought he saw it…

After years of anticipation, which grew stronger in the past few months, George was never sure if he was just seeing things or not.

I suppose it doesn't matter, He thought, placing a cigarette between his lips to light up-an ineffective attempt to calm down and forget it all. Eventually it will be real. I can't waste anymore time.

Another trait of someone who hasn't grown up: They hardly ever keep promises. The ones they do keep are only for their own gain.

*QUEENS*

Bravery is a trait often found in those who grow up. Because all it means is that they know how to react when they are scared. In many ways, it looks to the world like the brave don't react to fear at all. But I don't believe this.

Jane always felt fear when she entered the two-bedroom apartment where our story begins. Not fear for something physical like her life, the fear she'd learned to deal with was more abstract. She learned to cope with it in smaller ways.

As if mirroring George's actions from miles away, Jane sat by her window-slightly ajar as a lit cigarette sat lonely in an ashtray. Jane wasn't smoking, she just found the scent of nicotine comforting.

She had to be careful though, even while Angela was sleeping (and wouldn't rat her out anyways), their mother hated cigarettes and would keep them up all night ranting and raving about how Jane was "Killing herself, her sister, and her mother" but how "maybe it doesn't matter to a selfish little brat like her."

Yeah Mom, I am selfish. Jane thought, That's why I've never offered you one.

So she continued her routine of spraying the Japanese Cherry Blossom Body spray to mask the smell, throwing the cigarette stub down the side of the building, and hiding the tray and old cigarette pack in a footlocker beneath her bed.

Jane noted only two cigarettes were left. It had been a pack of 20 when her father had purchased it in the early 2000s, and it had only 6 left by the time Jane got ahold of it. She remembered because she'd counted and thought at the time, Six! Just like me!

Now it was almost ten years later. Her beloved sister was going to be 20 next week. Jane was making her a purse out of an old dress their mother wanted to give away. Being good at domestic things like sewing usually helped save money for Jane. One day her sister's birthday present would be getting them both away from their crazy bitch of a mother.

Before she fell asleep, Jane's eyes focused on the black, night sky and the scarce stars that shone in a polluted city like her's.

"Star light, star bright. First star I see tonight." She lied to probably the twentieth star she'd gazed upon in the last five minutes. "I wish I may, I wish I might have the wish I wish tonight."

Though her previous words were irrevocably tinged in sarcasm, her meaning behind them was most sincere-especially the part she uttered next. "Get us out. Please?"

In spite of her sincerity, she fell asleep without hope of the wish being granted. Only a burning desire in her chest that went unsated.

One consequence of growing up too soon without growing old: It made it very hard to put trust in stars and have faith in the possibility of wishes.

Though, one should not forget, it isn't impossible either.