"I was gonna say," he laughed, "If that was the second time today you'd let someone else get the blame for something you've done..."

She turned away from his words as if that could protect her, though the shrapnel was buried deep in her chest already. Standing from her seat, she moved to the window and looked up to the sky, counting the stars, connecting them in her mind just as she'd been taught by someone else a lifetime ago.

"Sophia, step away from the window darling," her mother ordered, only the smallest hint of sympathy in her voice. "It's silly to wish on a star that is likely already dead; you'll see that soon enough when the light reaches you." With that, she walked from the room and left Sophia standing, chest swollen with an unshed sigh.

One last look up at the night sky brought back swift, warm memories on a summer breeze.

Of strong arms wrapped around her on a hilltop. Of a beating heart beneath her ear. Of a hand guiding her own through the air, drawing pictures in the stars. Of her pulse pounding a million miles an hour as she watched the world pass by underneath her from the back of a horse racing across the clouds, Julien racing alongside her and winking as he overtook.

It all felt like a fever dream now, thinking about her time with Julien. Her wild Sky Rider with a golden heart.

She hadn't meant to do what she had, and she'd never meant for him to take the blame for it. But it was as he had said - her family only knew him as the boy down the road, her first boyfriend in a line of many who they wouldn't miss. But if she'd gone missing, they would search and find he didn't live near and they would order a search party out for the both of them, which would only get them involved.

Her brother had found out that his disappearance was her fault when he'd heard her muttering to herself that night through tears. Though luckily, as far as he knew, Julien was only grounded at a nice house a few blocks down, having broken up with Sophia and moved on.

Leaning against the windowsill a moment longer, Sophia looked up at the darkness that she longed to ride once more, and promised Julien she'd wait for him. She wasn't strong enough to break him out of prison - never mind an otherworldly one - but she was strong enough to wait for his return and draw his name in the stars every night so she never forgot.

"Sophia!" Her mum called suddenly, stealing her train of thought. Sophia took the stairs in twos and kissed her mum goodnight.