Atmosphere

by Taylor Jenkins Reid

My God, she thought, what else can I do?

She had always been her greatest friend, her greatest guide.

“Well, we are the stars,” Joan said. “And the stars are us. Every atom in our bodies was once out there. Was once a part of them. To look at the night sky is to look at parts of who you once were, who you may one day be.” As she said it, Joan could tell how lonely it must sound. To find companionship with the stars. But what she meant was bigger than that.

Joan suspected that liking the view of herself through Vanessa’s eyes was dangerous. She just wasn’t sure how.

“I don’t know but I…I want to show you every good thing I’ve ever found,” Joan said.

It was not easy. But, oh, was it good.

“Happiness is so hard to come by. I don’t understand why anyone would begrudge anyone else for managing to find some of it.”

It felt so good to Joan, to hurt to leave her.