Powerful (The Powerless Trilogy, #1.5)

by Lauren Roberts

“You make even the stars envious,” I repeat softly, leaning toward her. “Because one day—far from now—you will be up there beside them, outshining every single one.”

“And will you be beside me up there?” “If I should be so lucky.” “Promise me,” she murmurs sternly. “I don’t want to be alone.” I nod against her hair. “I promise, Dena.”

“What’s this?” I smile sheepishly. “Oh, I left you a message.” His eyes flick to mine before skimming over the embroidered blue thread. I’ve never been much good with my lettering, but the cursive is clean enough to read, at the very least. “See you in the sky,” he murmurs, running his finger over the sentence and the accompanying stars I stitched beside it.

“I’m tripping into you, Mak.” His thumb brushes across my cheek. “Tripping into me?” I nod, breath shaky. “I don’t fall for someone. I trip uncontrollably toward them before inevitably hitting the ground.” He smiles softly, the action delicate atop his stern features. His eyes wander over my face while his fingers tuck unruly hair behind my ear. “Well, I would catch you, Dena, but it seems we’re going down together.” I blink at him, my smile widening. “Really?” He nods slowly. “Really.”

“This is not a goodbye… only a good way to say bye until I see you next.”

She blinks slowly at the sky above, her eyelids growing heavier with each one. She’s counting the stars. I break. All of me. Every inch of my being shattering at the realization.

The stars she now counts for the last time. I weep, unashamed, for her. For the girl who shines so bright that the sun pales in comparison. For the girl who I was helplessly tripping into. For the girl who deserved a happy ending. “Just count the stars, Dena.” I choke out the words, whisper them on the wind that will carry her soul far away from me. “Just count the stars.” I count right along with her. One, two, three… Only, I’m counting down the seconds until I get to see her again. Four, five, six…