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Oh, my goodness.

Above me, the stars stretch in every direction.

Thousands of them.

Maybe millions.

The sky is so clear that I can see faint, silvery clouds of stars sweeping across it, and for a moment I feel as though I've slipped out of the world entirely.

There's no ceiling, no city glow, nothing between me and the endless darkness scattered with light.

Just the sea holding me up and the universe opening above me.

“Makes you feel small, doesn't it?”

“Yeah.”

I smile.

I can hear my own breathing, the soft movement of water against my ears, the distant hush of the waves.

For once, I don't need to be anywhere else.

I don't need to do anything.

I can just exist.

“I hope I never forget this.”

Jude clears his throat again.

“What's that?”

“The beauty.”

I lift one wet hand and point towards the sky.

“Look how beautiful.”

“Gorgeous.”

Something about his voice makes me smile.

It's lower than usual. Hoarse, almost.

I turn my head towards him.

And find him looking at me.

Not the stars.

Me.

My breath catches.

He swallows, and for a moment he looks almost angry with himself.

Moonlight catches the droplets clinging to his chest and shoulders, tracing silver paths over his skin. His wet hair is pushed back from his forehead, and behind him a thousand stars paint the sky.