Zahra could do nothing but sit and gaze up at the hollow skies that had suffocated her ever since Ayami left Earth.
Basking in the glow of the flowers they’d once planted together when starlight illuminated these nights, it was impossible not to think of her, even though she was certainly long gone and those past times of wonder were now a memory. Though tonight looked no different than any of the sleepless nights she had spent on that hill, it was. This night was meant to celebrate the return of the dying stars that had once departed and left their world shrouded in darkness. There had been no sign of them in a long time, and slowly, all who had placed their hopes in Ayami’s expedition moved on, one by one, until Zahra alone was left to carry the torch for her lost love. Though many had tried to convince her to let go, Zahra held out for years, waiting for this night to come and bring back with it Ayami and the light.