A Star

“You had only been in Tidewick for a few days? Why didn’t you stay to see more of the city? It’s a common vacation spot known even to other countries.” Ira’s cheerful nature seemed to be her true one, as she continued to berate me with questions, even after we had been hours into our travel.

“Why would I?” I avoided eye contact with Ira by looking out the carriage window. It's not that I didn’t like her. Ira was quite charming. She would’ve been a lovely companion for someone who was a bit more talkative.

“To see beautiful sights! We have historical buildings, built hundreds of years ago when Fiore first became an independent kingdom. The architecture is truly amazing. I grew up there my entire life, but I still am awed every time I see them. Not to mention the ocean! You at least went up to the shoreline, right?” She asked me, leaning in.

“I went out to the docks.”

“I bet for only a few minutes, though. Am I right?” At this, I squirmed in my seat.

“I’m sure it was more than a few minutes. That’s where I met Nox”, I said, changing the subject. “By the way, have you ever met Nox before yesterday?” She pondered for a moment and then shook her head.

“I have seen him around a few times, but I didn’t even know his name before yesterday. I heard a few rumors about him, though. A lot of the women in the tavern were looking to begin a relationship with him, so they’d ask us servers to ask him out for them. It was rather annoying, looking back at it”, she put one hand under her chin and began to pout. Thinking back, Nox did have some flirtatious habits. I could imagine many women being interested in him. He was also quite handsome, but a little too pushy for my tastes.

“That does sound annoying”, I respond, “If you like someone, why don’t you just say it to them? I don’t think it does anyone any favors to have a stranger ask for you.”

“Have you ever asked anyone out?” Ira’s brown eyes glistening in the sunlight. She reminded me of a young schoolgirl.

“Well… no, but I can imagine what it would be like.”

“You haven’t even had your first love yet, have you?”

“I haven’t had time.”

“It seems like you don’t have a lot of time for anything.” She crossed her arms.

“I’m sensing a lot of judgment right now”, I respond flatly, my face expressionless.

“Can’t imagine why”, she smirked.

“Remind me again why I decided to take you with me?” I stuck my tongue out at her, resulting in her returning the favor. We sat in silence, Ira grinning to herself while looking out the window. Eventually, my eyes began to close, and the continuous bumps of the carriage lulled me to sleep.

                                                                    _______________

For the first time in a while, I dreamed. Two young girls ran through a field of flowers, the sky, the color of dusk. As they ran, their laughs and heavy breaths enveloped the air. The younger of the two chased the elder, barefoot and bright-eyed. When she caught her, the two spun together in circles until their world blurred, and they collapsed out of breath.

The elder began to braid flowers together in a crown and gently placed it down on the younger’s head. Her face was full of love and affection. You could tell that whoever these children were, they were very close. She reaches down and picks a white lily, placing it in the younger’s blonde hair.

“Get it?” she giggled, causing the other to roll her eyes.

“Come on, it's time to go home”, the younger said. The elder frowned, her face pulled into a miserable expression.

“Do we have to?” she asked. The younger’s expression softened, and as she began to speak, the image of the two children began to shimmer and blur. Their voices began to murmur, and the rest of their conversation was left for the breeze.

The world tilted and spun, the children gone from my view. Instead, the docks appeared back at Tidewick. The air was crisp and salty. I breathed it all in, and my shoulders relaxed. I sat down on the dock and let my feet hang in mid-air.

“You look like you’re having fun”, a voice says behind me.

“It’s my dream. Of course I can have fun”, I respond, not even turning around.

“You truly are too at ease around others”, he said, chuckling. This time, I turned around, his tone reminding me of someone I disliked. I was right. The white haired man whom I met at the docks was behind me, hands in his robe pockets. His hair was gently swaying in the breeze, occasionally covering his eyes.

“Not this again. I don’t want you to chastise me even in my dream.”

“It’s not my intention to chastise you”, he paused, but ultimately decided to ask, “Who were those girls from earlier?”

“I’m not sure”, I answer truthfully, “They could be just two girls I met on the street. You know how dreams are. Sometimes, making sense, and other times, they’re absolute delusions. Just like you being here. I only met you briefly, yet my brain conjured you here.” At this, he just remained silent.

“Well, does dream you have a name?” He finally asked.

“Nia,” I responded, “Do you have a name?”

“Seren,” he said quietly.

“I don’t know why I asked to be honest. It's not like that’s your actual name.” I smiled widely and laughed at my foolishness.

“If that’s what you want to believe”, he said with the widest grin I’d ever seen him wear.