Chapter 15: Starlight Oasis

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Everything around me is brilliant white. Brighter than the midday sun. Shapes, shadows, all are muted obscurities etched upon an infinite canvas.

"Where…where the hell am I?" Instinctively, my fingers press against my brow to shade my eyes from the harsh light, which is pouring down from above, shrouding everything in magnificent radiance.

Without warning, my deepest fear overtakes me. "Please, no. Don't let this be the hospital room." Though I can't see, the sensation of tears well in my eyes. "Fucking goddammit!" I yell. "NO!"

As if spurred by my voice, the astral light drenching the passage begins to recede. Things start to come into focus, the light subdues, though only slightly. I can see the faint outline, a giant stone structure with a vaulted ceiling touching the sky through its windows.

Beneath my palms, I'm staring down a truly incredible corridor, shrouded in a masterful display of gothic architecture. From my vantage, I'm at the top of a long stretch of stairs, a grand marble platform leading to more stairs on either side. Behind me, great columns stand between beautiful narrow windows of gold stained glass. They reach above crimson medieval banners, to lofty heights. But there, I notice something wrong. The ceiling's masonry is deeply fragmented, gaping holes allow sunlight through shattered stone wall below the ridged frame of the roof.

"Is this some sorta castle?" I wonder. "Was." That's the better word. It might have been bombed long ago. Vegetation has overtaken the lower region of the court. Dense vines and vivacious flowers coil around the granite, transforming the former palace into an open-air greenhouse.

"What…?" I struggle to catch my breath. It could be a dream, but my dreams haven't been in color since before the trauma. Even still, I've never experienced something so vivid that wasn't real. "How…How is this possible?"

My entire body quivers as the once uncertain hall clears, revealing a mighty structure unlike any I have ever seen. I'm at an altar of sorts, high above the rest of the long pathway leading to a tunnel of pure light. The blinding channel forces me to look away, back toward the gigantic bricks of marble comprising the hall as I bring my sight back to myself.

From there I find myself looking down. However, the sight does not match with memory, jarring my consciousness into a knot. "These aren't my clothes." It surely costs more than I've ever earned. A jet-black tuxedo with a prominent boutonniere on the peak lapel.

"The fuck is this?" I squirm frantically in place—my fingers race along the fancy wardrobe.

And then the revelation hits me: my bum left arm, it's been moving this whole time. But not just that, it's feeling everything. There is no cast. No broken bones. My once useless fingers caress the succulent petals of the flower against my heart. It's so soft and delicate, I forget how to breathe and start hyperventilating.

"No…this…it can't be real." My mind is aching from all the sensation running through my arm. All of it is coming back in a flood of sensation. The way my digits move, how they dexterously dance around the threads and leaves stitched onto the dressy jacket, it's too much. The way I can squeeze the soft fabric, feel it rub against my fingers, it's like I've recovered completely. Any shadow of the past, the pain, all of it, gone.

I feel myself start to break down. Tears well in the corners of my eyes like rain. "Why? Is this some cruel joke?" I wheeze.

In the distance, down the long hall of light, I see a shadow from the end of the tunnel.

"What? What is that?"

Both my hands interlock as I try to regain my composure. The feeling sends a chill down my spine. It's so simple yet so pleasing to feel in my arm once more. Shaking my trembling head, I strain myself to override the sensation and focus.

"It's coming toward me." My eyes widen. "Heading straight this way." But, strangely, my feet are rooted in place. It's as if the broken arm has been replaced by two unmoving legs. I smack my thighs, trying to wake them up through the dress pants. It does not seem to work.

By now the figure is closer, it has covered quite a distance, walking along the gilded path toward me while I scramble to locate my bearings. It's garbed in purest white, shimmering light from all around it like a star.

"Wait…wait a goddamn minute…" There's not enough air for me to breathe as I realize the setting. Familiar melodies, some mixt celebratory hymn of strings, fills my cranium. The altar. The music. The fancy clothes. This—cathedral. It's a wedding ceremony! But who's? Mine? I'm not engaged. Yet here I stand, at the edge of being a bachelor in groom's clothes. "What the fuck?"

That's when I see her. She's obviously the bride in this getup. Her dress is billowing and pure white. It reminds me of Sera's gown when she transformed, except it's not black, but sparkling like fresh snow.

I'm shaking uncontrollably. What the hell am I doing here? Why is this happening? Is it because of those thoughts of her in my mind?

She climbs the steps. Adorned with white flowers, her hair is tied behind her head. It's obvious who she is before we're even standing face-to-face.

"Ette…" I say under my breath.

She nods without hesitation. Even her slight motions bedazzle me, as crystals stitched into its fabric reflect light everywhere.

"Why?" I pant. "Ette, why are you here?"

Her pale cheeks flush. "Isn't it obvious?"

"No, none of this is—!" I reach out and grasp her slender shoulders. Her gown reminds me of silk, yet so much more luxurious than anything I've ever seen her in. Beneath both my palms, I feel her lithe body quiver in anticipation.

"Hey," she whispers, "didn't you promise me?"

"Promise?" Searching my memory, nothing comes to mind. "What're you talking about?"

She smiles gently. "You said we'd be together. No matter what."

"I…did?" It doesn't ring any bells. "Maybe in the cave I said something along those lines. I wasn't implying we'd be getting married!"

"Yes, you did. And it was the real you." She nods keenly. "It made me so happy."

This whole interaction continues to confound me. There's something different about how she's addressing me, but I can't place it. Again, I repeat to her serene gaze, "I did?"

Ette nods, a single coil of her hair comes loose dangling near her sparkling diamond earrings. "And I insisted: Always."

"Ette, I don't remember any of that!"

Oddly, she doesn't frown or do anything grouchy like I'd expect. Instead, her grin yields to chuckling. "Of course you don't. You passed out right when I said it. But you still must have heard me somehow – in your subconscious – otherwise we wouldn't be here."

My blood freezes in my veins. Did I die? Is this some sort of afterlife?

She answers my bewildered expression with a bigger smile. "But now we can be. And that's all we ever wanted."

"We wanted this?" As fascinating as it is, I don't understand how we got into this. I didn't make any specific vow to Ette, so why are we here and now? "Ette…" My tone abruptly shifts to become more serious and formal given the surrounding circumstances. "Colette, what IS…this?"

She hums airily and looks around, almost as if she's momentarily sharing in my confusion. "This is a place you don't know where or when you are. But you can feel who you're with." She gestures to the diamond ring on her finger as it touches her core. "That means it is our Heart Home."

"Heart…Home?" It sounds like something a Gardevoir would come up with.

"Home. It's what we share, our consciousnesses, our emotions, all of it together beyond the reach of space and time."

"Beyond the reach of space and time?" It sounds impossible.

"You know, they say not even light can escape." She holds me tightly. "But I see plenty of light, your light, my light, it's all here with us."

Every color imaginable, all of them are bedazzling. Yet the light isn't harsh like daylight. It's warm, which reminds me of the sun. The more I observe the more I realize the environment doesn't make sense. Those kaleidoscopic lights curve and bend around the center of the sky like a distant horizon, something I've never seen light do before. However, I don't know what this light is. What does she mean by it being her light or my light?

While I'm wondering, I feel a gentle, familiar sensation join with my thoughts. There's a sort of lingering orange and citrusy scent surrounding me, the same as Ette.

She lets out a satisfied chuckle. "These lovely lights…they're ours."

For the first time I realize with certainty she just read my mind! This HAS to be a dream. I go to pinch myself, but Ette quickly clasps my wrist hovering over my cheek.

"You said you wouldn't do that." Her smile doesn't falter. "I guess you don't remember."

In disbelief, I admit, "Even though I don't remember anything, you're still smiling. Ette, why aren't you crabby like usual?"

"Crabby?" She laughs so hard she wipes the corner of her eye, her golden irises glistening with tears of joy. "I can't imagine it on this occasion. I'm happy beyond measure, it's all I can feel. You and I. We're here. Together. And it's wonderful. You chose me, and I chose you. Colette and—" Suddenly her hand clasps my own. As our fingers intertwine, she gradually draws us to touch her glowing heart.

My heart races uncontrollably at the incredible feeling of our mutual attraction toward each other. We're really about to join with each other. It's nerve-wracking and wonderful all in the same breath.

"Hey," she says softly leaning toward me, "don't you want this?"

My left hand effortlessly goes to lift the translucent veil as my right caresses her. "Of course, I do."

"Then…kiss me," she says.

A bell starts to ring as I bring my lips to hers. Right as we meet, a tremendous surge of energy flows from between our bodies. And despite this, we press harder together in our combined passion.

Suddenly, my eyes snap open to discover a sea of stars overhead.

"What the…?!" I jolt in place. I can't move because of someone coiled around me. In fact, her heart is right against my chest.

Colette. The same Ette I married in the dream, minus the gaudy gown. The stars illuminate her drowsy visage, transforming her into such a striking sight. My vision distorts, the image of her from my recent dream overlaps with her. The two are one and the same.

Not only that, but her heart, smooth and soft, is pressing along with her chest against me. Its redness seems to glow under the canopy of starlight, pulsing as she anchors herself on my sternum. A torrent of raw sensation drives me to shock, while the startling revelation hits me those throbbing beats are completely synched with my own racing heart buried deep in my ribcage.

I gasp for air as if I have been taken underwater for too long. My heart is pounding, my whole face is wet from perspiration. I try to reach up and dry my brow, only my right hand answers the command. My left is still out of commission in a cast.

"Hah…agh…!" My breaths are sporadic and ragged. As she presses herself flush to me, I realize just how turned on I am when she does that. My blood is scorching hot in my veins, demanding I do something with her. Her legs twist against my thighs, strands of her green hair glue to my sweaty face. I can't control myself much longer at this rate.

I keep on trying to find my center by taking deep breaths. Suddenly, she rolls her whole form on top of me. She might not be heavy, but she fucking feels heavy. Her skin is slightly flushed, rosy and creamy. That mushy sensation as she envelops me in her embrace warms my whole world.

I don't think she's awake, or knows what she's doing to me, but she's about to make me lose it.

In a fit of heated delirium, I tumble to the side, falling out from under her and the hammock. I fall on the sand and race toward the water. It's illuminated, like floodlamps in a pool. Once at the slippery edge, I kneel over. Reaching my hand out to the spring, I scoop up the cold water and douse my face. I gasp again and again, letting the fever flow from my forehead.

While I'm splashing away, from behind me, I hear Ette making a commotion. Turning, I catch a glimpse of her charging straight at me. Shit, she might fall in. I get up to block her path.

"Don't—" Though I catch her, we both fall into the water. Again.

Somehow, she winds up in my arm. The floral scent in her hair is impossible to ignore as she pushes herself into me. It makes my heart beat much faster this time.

"Alv, are you okay?" she asks, her head right near my pounding chest.

"Fine." Not even the glowing water reflecting the moonlight manages to avert my thoughts of her being in my dream. The uncanniness of it all sends a chill up my spine. Staring far into her brilliant gold eyes feels so damn familiar.

"You don't look fine," she says matter-of-factly.

"I'm fine!" I proclaim in a much more forceful voice than the lucid words whirling in my head would suggest.

She recoils, then grimaces as her ears sink low.

"Sorry, Ette, I didn't mean to yell at you."

"Why are you taking a nighttime bath?" she asks innocently.

"Nighttime bath?" As absurd as it sounds, that's one way of describing what we're doing right now.

"Yeah, I like these a lot," she says straightforwardly. "I didn't know you did too."

Wait, she's the one who knocked us into the oasis. Though it's true Ette likes to bathe at night, that's when I saw her— My brain short-circuits from reliving that scene at her lake house.

"Alv! You look like you just saw a ghost!" she remarks.

"Nugh! No, nothing, I didn't see anything!"

She frowns and squeezes me dangerously close. Ripples spread out from where our waists meet. "What's gotten into you?"

You.

"Why won't you answer?"

Because you're right here. This is all so sudden.

"Alv, you're worrying me."

I take a deep breath, brace myself, and twist to face her, trying not to focus too much on her body. "Sorry, I didn't know what to say."

"Hm?" Water droplets flow off her ears as she tilts her head in thought. "Use your voice."

"What?"

"You told me in the cave. You said, 'Even if you're scared of something, you can still talk, like this. Do it, try again and again until you can talk to the darkness that's in your head, tell it that it can't have you."

I'm met with an awkward silence. Ette's been giving me my own advice. And I still don't have an answer in return. Why?

"It's okay," she says in a comforting voice. "I'll use my voice for both of us."

For an instant my eyes look up and down her wet figure glistening in the starlight. I can't hold back my feelings for her which is why I'm so clammed up. How do I stay cool and rational at a time like this?

"When I woke up, you were gone, and I was afraid something happened to you," she says shyly.

"Ette…" The words I so frequently rely on escape me. All I can say is her name as I look away at the still shoreline.

She plants her hand on my shoulder. "Alv, can you look me in the eyes?" The firmness in her voice surprises me more than her tight grip.

I've been avoiding her, which is rude. I start to turn to face her, and she uses her arm to help me the rest of the way.

I'm greeted by her cheerful smile below her golden eyes and damp green bangs. "Here, silly!"

I can feel her determination. Simultaneously, tension evaporates from my body. That deep breath I was holding in my chest? Yeah, it's long gone now.

"I really don't understand why you're out here for a bath, Alv." She speaks without even a hint of anxiousness. To be honest, it stuns me.

With a smirk, I summon my composure and hold her. "It's not a bath, you goof. It's a pond in the desert."

She laughs cutely. "But you still washed off in there like it was a big tub! I suppose on an adventure that's the way it is though. We're just doing things our way!"

"Our way?" I repeat.

"Yup!" She nods exuberantly.

She's so damn cute. I can't even begin to describe her expression. My heart rate is going off the charts and I'm not even peering at her suggestive parts. How do I stop? Do I even want to? My eyes are glued to her.

Her fingers rub the sides of my collar bone as she exhales in the cool night air.

"Oh, come on," I finally say.

"What?" Her grin turns devilish as she reveals her teeth. "Finally wanna say something?"

She knows me too well. It's strange, we only began traveling, but I feel as though I've always known Ette. As weird as that sounds, we have this connection. It's as though we know— No. That wouldn't make any sense.

I slowly wade out of the water with her attached to me.

My hand gestures on the sand. "Here. Have a seat."

Not without a hint of reluctance, Ette does just that. She folds her hands atop her bent knees and calmly breathes the crisp night air.

I get a towel and place it around her. She holds it tight around herself at first.

Then I sit down next to her.

"Are…you still wet?" she asks.

"Nah."

"Don't lie," she scolds. Then, with a flick of her wrist and a telekinetic force, we're both wrapped by the same towel. It's unspeakably warm and cozy because of her body heat and mine.

We stare at the sparkling water under a bed of stars, the arms of the galaxy, for what seems like a few minutes.

"Why?" Ette breaks the silence.

Nerves have me on edge. Is it possible she knows why I'm all out of sorts? I did act weird after catching her. Anxiously, I reply, "Why what?"

"Why is the oasis lit up?"

"Oh, yeah." She's right, the water is aglow with light. However, upon closer inspection, it's not coming from the blanket of sparkling stars above. "It isn't a reflection."

"Of course not!" she says, kicking her leg out at the shore, sending a stream of sand into the water.

"Huh?" I notice one of the lights following an oblong thing swimming away from where she just sprayed the grit. "Oh! It's those fish from before."

"Finneon." Ette leans forward, dragging me along with her in the towel. "That's what you said they're called."

"Uh-huh." Suddenly it clicks, and I remember something I researched, long ago, for a school project. "In clear freshwater, their bodies gather sunlight during the day, which causes their fins to shine at night. That's why they're called Paracheirodon Solaris, or more commonly, The Beautifly of the Sea."

"Really?" She gives me a perplexed look. "You might know as much as the Doctor does."

"Nah, a guy like me couldn't cut it as a doc."

"Why not?"

I scoff. "Cause it's not my path in life. Besides, it's trivial info, did a report on those fish, back when I cared about school."

"What happened?"

"Long story, Ette, don't want to talk about it right now."

"Why do you sound so upset?"

She's got a lock on my feelings, that's for damn sure. "It's nothing important, Ette."

"Oh, you were trying to remember the story about the Finneon from before, but were upset since you couldn't."

It's a real shame because she knows my feelings, but not my reason for them. The stupid Finneon story has nothing to do with why I'm distraught. Yet Ette seems to latch on to my emotions and jump to her own conclusions for why I have them. It's immature, but I can't fault her. She knows so little of the world. Even with her empathy powers, she's still got a lot to learn.

While I'm brooding over our disconnect, she stares innocently at the Finneon, remarking, "Still, I didn't know Beautifly had such an effect!"

She misunderstood once again. But I'm not going to ignore it any more. I'll tell her. "The reason I was upset had nothing to do with the story of the Finneon."

"I know that," she replies, "I wanted to take your mind off the reason you feel upset."

Wait, did I just get played by her?

She tilts her head and smiles. "So. Why do they have that name?"

"Well, Beautifly don't have an effect on Finneon, it's the sun. Sunlight lets them during the day, and their scales absorb a small portion of the energy to see even in the darkness of the night."

"Hmm." She points. "They don't give off much absorbed light alone, but together they produce off a lot of light."

"Huh. Then they'd band together, like a bunch of Beautifly migrating in a group."

Ette grins. "Looks like we figured out the mystery!"

"Pft, another one down," I joke. Still, the simple act of solving the simple quandary alongside her is exhilarating and my mind starts to fantasize. All this talk of Beautifly and I feel like there's a few in my stomach right now.

"That's exactly it!"

Her excited voice surprises me. "What?"

"They looked…really ordinary before." Ette's wry smirk returns. "But now it's obvious they were hiding an amazing secret!"

"An amazing secret?"

"Mhm. A special one. And it's ours too, since we're watching it!"

My collar feels warm as she says that. "Ours?"

"Uh-huh!" She nudges me. "We're sharing it!"

It's nice to share the secret of the Finneon with someone. But following my dream, it's tough to look at things the same way. She might have been in my dream, but, surely, we didn't share it. Did we?

If we did, then she knows how I really feel about her. If we didn't, then those thoughts of Ette are still how I felt in my subconscious.

Why am I attracted to her in the first place? Isn't it odd? Or rather, shouldn't I be concerned? Nevertheless, those nagging concerns become so lukewarm when I'm beside her.

"Alv?" Ette says, but I'm lost in my thoughts.

My feelings toward her, I'm straining to keep them in check. Ever since she planted that kiss I've been embroiled in thoughts of what is going on between us. Is it destiny? Is it the artifact? I just can't figure it out. The more I think about it, the stronger the feeling becomes. At this rate, I'm doomed.

"You look sick. You're all red—" Ette points out with a squeeze on my shirt "—and really warm."

She's warm too, but also soft. Just like in the dream. With her this close, those feelings from before all culminate and make me wish for clarity of thought, beg the universe for some wisdom here. Taking a deep breath makes her feel closer, it's that sweet citrus scent in her air, all around her body.

"Alv?"

"I'm fine," I answer as she leans on me. I go on to tell her, "Was just a dream I had."

"About what?" she asks.

About you. However, I'm not about to admit to her what my subconscious cooked up. Besides, unlike in the dream, this Ette can't use telepathy to read my mind. "I'm not sure. Felt so real when I was in it. I could move my arm again. Feel things."

"Ohh, that must've been really nice." Ette says innocently. "I've read about that. Vivid dreams are sometimes caused by stress, anxiety, or an unresolved problem. It's your mind's way of organizing your deepest feelings."

"Hey, be straight with me, you think I'll be able to use it again one day?"

Cradling my injured arm, Ette's ears droop. "I'm not a doctor, so it's difficult to say."

"Dammit!" I snap before realizing I'm losing my cool. "It's frustrating the hell outta me."

She shakes her head. "You're upset about it."

I snort. "Putting it mildly."

"Oh, I'm…I didn't mean to state the obvious. It's just…I feel your frustration."

"Ette?" My voice is hollow with wonder. What started with us sharing basic feelings seems to have evolved into something deeper as we rest next to each other reflecting on our future.

"What will you do once you get better?"

"I…huh?" Her question takes me off-guard. "I thought you said—"

"—C'mon, tell me." Ette leans in. "I'll keep it a secret."

"Well, I want to do normal stuff again, without being injured." Wow. What a stupid response.

Nevertheless, she listens intensively, looking like she's on a case at the hospital and taking mental notes.

Suddenly, it hits me as I imagine her scribbling on her mental clipboard in my mind. "Once my arm's healed, I'm going to build something with my own two hands."

"Ohh, like what?" she asks excitedly.

"Couldn't tell you," I laugh.

"That's mean," she pouts, "don't forget I AM your nurse helping you get there."

"Nah, see, I don't even know." Being forthright with her is best, moreover, it just feels good to do. "This feeling I just got, it's something I'd like to do. And once I get there, get better 'n all, it'll be obvious to me."

"Ooh." She murmurs in contemplation, "Since even if you knew, you couldn't do it right now. That would make you feel bad."

"Exactly."

"So, you'll have to get better." Ette smiles. "That should be your priority since you want to figure it out!"

"Yep, you got it." I grin at how naturally she's taken to my rationale. Ette really understands me. "Whadda 'bout you? You got any plans after we snag the artifact thief?"

In a somewhat despondent manner, she replies, "I think my answer's the same as yours. I don't really know yet."

"Birds of a feather flock together." It's corny to say, but we're both in the same situation. Our mutual uncertainties make it easier to see her as a companion to confide in. "We're really going to trailblaze our way through Rocaire until we find it, huh?"

"Hm. Yes, guess that's true, but I feel different from how I was at the clinic."

Her words intrigue me. "Oh, yeah?"

She nods. "I don't know what it is or why, but when I sit here with you and think about it, I feel like I'll find out what it means for me to be myself."

"Heh, I get that. Suppose we're both searching for something immaterial too. Took us losing something, Destiny's Knot, to set out on a journey to find something else entirely."

Ette softly laughs. "To think, you said you weren't articulate."

"My vernacular's still a bit rough," I grumble. "Trying to become stronger in my thoughts and words. Takes practice to—"

"No, no!" Ette disagrees. "I was being sarcastic."

"Oh." What a moron, I should've known she was joking. I'm finding it increasingly difficult to play it cool with her.

"Don't be hard on yourself," insists Ette. "You're doing great, you're going to get better. Your arm will too."

"Thanks." Though I won't say it, the reason I'm on edge is because of the thoughts swirling in my head about her. By now, it feels obvious it's not just me. She's been not only compassionate, but affectionate. Why? How come she cares about me? What did I do to make her want to help me? Could it be because the two of us are really one and the same? We're both on a journey to figure out who we really are, change our ways, become better. Ette's already made a lot of progress so far, she's learning more about the world, and also herself. That's really important if we're both going to be genuine about ourselves.

Ette nudges me. "Hey, what're you thinking about?"

A cool breeze passes over the glimmering oasis. "The future."

"The future?" she repeats.

"Yeah." I put my arm around her.

Her head leans against mine. "I don't know what the future holds for anyone," she replies softly, then gives a weak laugh. "Some psychic I am."

"No one knows what the future will be because the future isn't set in stone. Even if a psychic could glimpse a possible future, what actually happens depends on individuals – you, me, Morse, and everyone else – making their own choices. There's not a psychic in the world able to tell us all what to do with our lives."

Ette's ears sink, gently brushing down the side of my head. "I'm so useless though…"

Figure now's a good a time as any to bring it up. "Ette. You can't read minds, use telepathy, is that it?"

"N-No!" Immediately, she deflects, though it does not stop her face from flushing. "I told you that's just something Stupid Sera made up."

"Stupid Sera didn't tell me. In fact, Sera using telepathy to speak with me, pretending she was you, made me second-guess it."

Ette quietly toys with her hair braids near her chest.

"You never used telepathy."

Her hand freezes. Deliberately, she taps the edge of her heart. "…I can't use it on you."

"Me?" For some reason I recall the dream where she used telepathy on me and I was able to use my injured arm like normal. "What makes me so special?"

"Nothing," she replies. "Since, apparently, Sera's telepathy worked on you."

I don't get it. "Were you able to use telepathy to talk with Doctor Reeves?"

"I never needed to," answers Ette. "He was always happy to hear my voice – called my words delightful. Since they weren't in his head, he'd never get tired from hearing them. …Unless I started to sing."

I'm starting to see a pattern. Her inability to use the power is such a sensitive subject she'll make up excuses on the spot. I feel bad for her. Really bad. I want to help her. But I don't know how. What could I possibly do? I don't know jack shit about how those mind powers work. If only I had been more tenacious in my studies, perhaps I could understand her species better.

Instead of wallowing in ignorance, my gut tells me to be guileless in my answer. "Telepathy's just one type of mind power." Then I go to build her up. "You've got the power to speak and sing. Those are cool talents, really rare too."

"Everyone told me that when I was a Kirlia." She shivers in my arm. "'Oh, Colette, your voice is so pretty!' 'Sing us a song, Colette!' But then I'd put them to sleep and no one would be awake to see me sing my song to the end. It made me sad since singing was how I learned to speak. I began to begrudge my power."

"You shouldn't," I insist. "I'm glad to be able to talk with you."

She feebly nods. "I was raised…foolishly thinking I was a—" Ette sniffles "—a different-looking human. With special powers to make things float. It made sense when I was young. After all, I thought I was Colette Reeves, daughter of the famous physician, a local celebrity." She tugs on my collar tightly. "But I'm really not the same as you. When I'm with you it becomes more obvious how different we are. And it… makes my heart really hurt to think about."

The pitifulness of her words strikes my sentiments as well. She shouldn't feel this way about being herself. "We've got a lot in common."

"Like what?" she asks, taken aback.

"For starters, we've got the same dream." I choke on the words, as the dream I had comes rushing back to the forefront of my mind. I try to recover from internal embarrassment as warmth fills my chest, "To get better, and to leave our past selves behind."

In a trembling voice she asks, "How?"

"By being real with each other, we're real with ourselves!" I declare, "I don't want to be that asshole who ran away from his problems!" It feels good to get that off my chest. "Go on, your turn. Tell the Finneon and the stars."

"In that case," says Ette, "I don't want to be that snob who sheltered herself from the world!"

It makes me laugh, brutal honesty is especially uncommon for her. "Suppose that's alright, eh?"

Judging by Ette's smile, she feels better too. "Yeah, but I thought it would hurt more than it did to admit."

"That's what makes you, you. I'm glad to have you by my side, Ette. I'm sorry it's not a real beach…but—"

"No, it's fine…" She coos gently. "This is better."

The two of us relax under the stars. Finneon, with their glowing tails, dart beneath the occasional shooting star. I lose track of time watching the midnight spectacle next to her.