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They all stay.
Glacial tears streak my frozen lids as I feel the provenance of those strange words that echo through my heart rather my ears, their voices as warm as the most beautiful song I’ve ever heard.
Stars. You’re the stars.
What did you say?
I said they all stay.
Shut it, you. I meant her. The girl. She spoke to us.
That’s impossible. She’s nothing.
Well, that shows what you know. She can speak with her heart.
She cannot. She’s just a little speck of refined dust. And soon to be nothing.
I heard her clearly.
I hear you too,I answer. It seems like the polite thing to say. Communicating takes a tremendous effort. I must focus. If they’re the last thing—people, whatever—I hear before I’m about to die, swallowed by the void, I’ll endeavor to be polite at the very least. I’ve not been kind, or just, or selfless in my life. At least I’m dying well.
By my worlds!
She can speak.
Excitement buzzes among the stars, and somehow, that makes me want to smile. I don’t think I could if I tried. I’m entirely frozen.
Would you like to make a deal?
No one ever makes deals with us lost stars. It’s all about the suns of the visible world, or the moons, or the stupid void, but we’re powerful too, you know.
This particular star sounds very put out.
Maybe people are too far away to hear you?I guess.I’m sure everyone would be honored to make a deal with you. I would too. Except I’m dying.
Am I dying? I no longer feel that cold. Something tells me that’s not a good thing.
Well, you don’t have to die.
Not if we make a deal.
You’d have to swear to honor the stars.
Love us.
And we’ll love you.
That’s it. That’s the whole deal. Oh, no refunds. And your entire line will inherit that promise.
If they don’t love the stars, we’ll be very put out.
I think back to the beauty of the starry night out of the balcony in my room in Starfall. How I would have loved to be there right now, simply watching the stars.
If I could find the strength to agree to love them, I would. But I am nothing.
She nodded.
She absolutely nodded.
