In Stars Above

A dress, tangerine fading into sunflower. We stand together, rooftop of a white concrete building. Higher than clouds, further than moon— she looks down, my eyes follow. Our gazes collide when they fall onto the mist pooling into swirls. I couldn't help but stare, on her porcelain cheeks, something sparkles—tears, but I cannot tell if they're from joy or devastation. I want to hold her— In her eyes I see the look echoed in my mirror when I was addicted to weaving crimson lace sleeves into my arms. Her smile, the familiarly calm smile— so indifferent it stings —like witnessing the grace of a crashing star. My thoughts knot themselves in scarlet threads. She whispers something... I only make out the word ‘believe’ before the mist folds around us like a shroud. We fall— through ruptures in the clouds, the air turns sharp, blistering. Wind tears at our skin. Her dress unravels—tangerine threads trail behind her—tail of a burning comet. I reach for her— but fire moves faster than flesh. Gravity devours us whole— a silence building beneath the roar. I close my eyes, but her widened smile is already branded into my eyelids— “Prepare for impact,” she hums, joy rising like static in her throat. We break through the last veil of mist— The concrete rushes up like a verdict. I see ourselves, red splattered over black stone— I brace— dancing heat feasts on my skin—— ——No impact. The flame burns us clean before we make it to the ground. Ashes like quiet snowflakes... are all that's left of us.