Tassi (Read Ramble Repeat)

“I count the stars,’ she says softly. ‘To help me sleep.’ [...] ‘I always wondered how something could shine so bright, even while being swallowed in darkness.’
My eyes run over the shadowed outline of her face. ‘I’ve been trying to figure
that out myself.’
‘I hope they know how admired they are up there,’ she murmurs. ‘I mean, I
count them before bed every night.’
I shake my head at the sight of her admiring something far duller than she.
‘I’m quite sure that even the stars are envious of you.’
Her head turns towards me, pulling her eyes from the sky and pinning them
on me. ‘What?’
‘You make even the stars envious,’ I repeat softly, leaning towards her.
‘Because one day – far from now – you will be up there beside them, outshining
every single one.’ [...]
After several shaky breaths, she whispers, ‘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.”
― Lauren Roberts, Powerful