It's been a while since I've updated. I figure this is much needed. Please let me know any thoughts you have in the reviews. :)

I am not quite sure when or how I drifted off. I woke in a different place than I had started, and that fact itself startled me. My eyes adjusted slowly and I began to take in my surroundings. It was dark and unfamiliar, but I felt comfortable enough and simply took in everything. Looking around, I found Voss beside me with intent eyes and a sleepy smirk.

"Morning sunshine, you're heavier than you look."

My eyes automatically rolled at his comment. "Oh great, you again."

"Damn right it's me, sunshine. You'll need to get used to it. I've been informed you'll be spending a good deal of time with me."

My face scrunched at the unpleasant words. "I couldn't have gotten someone more... tolerable?"

He laughed lightly, and for once smiled nicely. Then he shook his head with little force and glanced away. I figured he was done with words for the night, but that was alright. I needed time to myself for a bit. My thoughts had begun to pick up with all of the news of the day rushing back. It felt as if I needed to decipher everything once again just to be sure I wasn't missing anything or dreaming.

I could only figure we were flying since I could feel the movement, yet I knew I wasn't traveling in a car. I was lying on a bench, and towards the end there was a tiny window. I scooted closer, and looked out with curiosity. Below me, I could barely make out the clouds in the dark night. It was beautiful and scary all at once. I had never flown before, never dreamed of the possibility. Yet, here I was now, and my mind couldn't grasp how I quite felt about this alone.

Peeking behind me, I noticed Voss' slumped nature and shut eyelids. I decided not to bother him any longer. He had said he was an advisor. I'm sure it's not his everyday duty to deal with teenage girls and haul them to new places. But here he was, with me. What was still a mystery to me was why was I of such importance to someone directly beneath the king.

I wished I had something to distract me now. My fingers longed to play an instrument, my throat ached to hum. Anything to keep my mind from drifting to Aspen. I wondered what he had been told. I wondered if he had climbed to the treehouse and waited for me still. Was he there now? Did he glance at my window and see the emptiness in my bedroom? Did he know I was gone, possibly to never return to him? Did he know that he was losing a chance at love, one of his soul mates, and instead remaining as he is now at 23 for an undetermined amount of time?

I missed him though I knew I shouldn't. He was the kindest person I knew. I wanted to talk to him for hours about today and everyday as we always did. He was all I knew. How could the government imagine me with another person? He was my best friend and everything I could have ever wanted. He made my days better, and held me when I was unsure how to handle situations. I needed that now. I needed him now simply.

Before I knew it, tears were streaming my face. I felt as if I were losing one of the best people in my life. I didn't want to replace him, and I didn't see how I could. I would never be able to build a relationship that comfortable with any other. He complimented me in all aspects, and was strong where I was weak. It seemed as if we were perfection together, so how was I supposedly perfect for someone else?

I laid back down and stared into the night. My heavy eyelids drooped with sleepiness once more. My face stung with the wetness, but I figured it wouldn't matter in the morning. So I let sleep find me, and I let my thoughts find Aspen once more before my life changed forever.