el so molten, so vigorous, so bright. Luna could recognize it immediately, the way the whitewashed clouds milled about in the sky, hovered over people's gaze, and the wa

heels clicking up the cobblestones, textures dancing over silk and chicweaved jackets. All the while, over bars and restaurants

ng him, testing whether in the larger social world she could be out here and away from them all. The brunch at her apartment building was subdued, the table courteous and harried. I d

" she wondered aloud, suddenly gri

as he held still, watching me, unfazed and unoffended. "Their curiosity,

ride unhurried, yet he never flinched or tried to make up for it, if you see what I mean. He didn't halt, he didn't pause, he d

r hanging from the ceiling. Champagne-like flowing and the sounds of glasses clicking. What is that noise? Small talk started in the background. When they arrived, Luna and Ethan could see glances circu

squeeze, he didn't speak. Just held on and kept her rooted in her body. "Nothing to worry about," he said softly as he

ingly abstract piece, which Luna simply brushed off, and then,

an... Unli

harp as the blade. Luna turned and groped for any outward signs of emotion, and

n't think I would ever see you marry someone like him," she said in

Ethan leaned in towards her just a little and whispered in a voice so q

nd squeezed. Love burst inside her. She looked her sister in the eyes and sa

as a hollow sort of ache that trudged after the last one. Ethan didn't wallow in the emotio

he golden smile sweet, but a little curious in her eye. 'Luna, dear, 'she leaned towar

e. In an instant, she felt a wave of warm, solid energy form in her stomach. I

d a minuscule shake of the head. "Let them say what they will," h

iny it's almost undetectable,e but she holds onto it. This is one of the reasons she picks him, not because he is safe or comfortable or because he is too good for her. Because with him, she feels real. But again, the gallery kept closing in. They watched them. The words floated free and w

f collapsed steel and glass when her cell phone vibrated. The display flic

s is very interesting. Sure, y

rc

, taking it as he pulled her after him in silence. "They can't scare

s, thin flashes of color rushing past. It was the first time that the world didn't seem as unlivable as b

ore pointed. Everything was a little more critical. Outside the gallery windows, the city shone in

e warm promises of the city hit like a punch to the stomach. Luna's cell once

possessively and tightly around her hand, warm and unwavering. He seemed disengage

R CLIF

lhardy conviction that he was more in control than he appeared to be. The stakes she'd be facing tomorrow would be far more than her love. Tomorrow's revela