What must it be like to grow up that beautiful?

—life hasn’t been easy lately; the only good thing that has happened to her in the last couple of weeks is that she found a job relatively easily after arriving in New York, as well as a somewhat decent apartment in a quiet neighborhood somewhere in Queens. it is nothing like she is used to; nothing is anymore, but it was the best decision she could make for herself and her two-year old. she is currently waiting for her turn at a supermarket line, and thankfully there is a person or two behind her because something is telling her she got distracted responding to her daughter’s queries and forgot to add up her things to make sure she had enough for everything. nervously fiddling with the hem of her hoodie, she shushed the toddler, gently, as the cashier started ringing up her stuff. had she not left everything overnight to move to New York, her husband would be paying for everything and she wouldn’t have to worry herself now. in the past few weeks she had been forced to do things she was scared of doing on her own, always depended on him for everything.

when the cashier told her the total sum, Leia ran a hand over her face. damn it. she knew it, she knew she had messed up. “I am sorry,” she said to the person behind her, taking in a quiet breath —how humiliating. she had recently paid rent and electricity, she was short on money, and frankly was struggling to make ends meet. had things been different, she wouldn’t have to be in this position now, but she made her choice. “can you please take these out?” she sheepishly told the cashier, pushing the pack of diapers towards her; she would have to save up her tips and come back for these in a couple of days.

His observant eye caught sight of the young woman ahead of him, her demeanor betraying a hint of fluster as she nervously toyed with the hem of her hoodie. Despite his own engagement, Colson remained attuned to the world around him, recognizing the telltale signs of stress and uncertainty etched onto her features. As she engaged with the cashier, a subtle empathy tugged at Colson's heartstrings, recognizing the weight of responsibility she bore and the challenges of navigating unfamiliar terrain.

When she reluctantly began to remove items from her purchase, Colson felt a surge of compassion. "Hold on," he interjected gently, refusing to let her relinquish necessities. "Those are essential; we can't do without them." With a warm smile, he stepped forward, addressing the cashier with quiet determination. "Please, allow me to cover the cost of these," he requested, gesturing towards the set-aside items. His expression conveyed not just empathy but a shared understanding and support, offering a lifeline of assistance in a moment of need. "Or perhaps there's a coupon we can utilize?" he suggested, seeking to alleviate the financial burden without hesitation.

She had arrived there early to secure a table for her friends. She knew the three of them would be running late and she was the only one who could fairly get there on time. So Abigail ordered herself a drink and waited at the table for her friends to join her. She was scrolling through her phone on Tiktok when someone walked up to her. She looked up at them and smiled, "Hey, there."

Leaning in slightly, he peered over Abigail's shoulder, curiosity piqued. "Anything interesting, Abi?" he inquired, the soft glow of her screen casting a faint illumination on his features. Despite the allure of the digital world, Onyx remained grounded in the present moment, content to wait with Abi until the other owners of the table arrived.

"I don't think you can, mate. You're looking at the sky so you're doing alright." This time the joke was meant to reassure. Perhaps the other was overthinking but they could be doing worse.

Dahey rolled their eyes when Gemini was what the other wanted to spot. Not for the constellation or being asked to find it but because Dahey was a twin and that came with a lot of feelings. "It's not the easiest but it's doable. Do you know how to find Orion? Or the belt of Orion at least? Three stars in a row..." Dahey trailed off a little as they tried to find something they recognized and could go off of.

The eye roll prompted by the mention of Gemini introduces a personal touch, piquing Onyx's curiosity. "Not a fan of the zodiac?" He wonders about the story behind Dahey's reaction, sensing that there might be deeper sentiments tied to the mention of the twin constellation. Geminis, by their nature, often exhibit a tendency to turn a deaf ear to the celestial influences shaping their personalities.

As Dahey shifts the conversation toward Orion and its distinctive belt, Onyx's eyes trace the invisible lines connecting stars. The mention of three stars in a row garners a nod from him. "Yeah, I suppose I can..." He squints, directing his gaze to the spot he believes to be the celestial formation.

"Shame no one of importance has come from that embarrassingly ordinary school. Stephen Hawking and Alan Turing never did anything worth talking about, studying, or making movies about. Might as well be talking about Manhattan Community College." As Dahey acted like they were let down by this realization, the sarcasm was as hidden as the smile on their face. They lived for this sort of stuff and could stand here all day in this ridiculous battle.

Dahey's sarcasm, delivered with a flair for the dramatic, was met with a pained expression from Colson. "Indeed, it's a heavy burden to carry, the lack of Nobel laureates in comparison to other institutions," he replied, his tone echoing the theatrics. "Right, because movies are more important than say... cancer research." He rolls his eyes. "Hard to compete when the scientists over at Max Plank are directly developing medications, such as Herceptin and Sutent to benefit cancer patients worldwide." He shrugs, "But you know, computer science is cool too."

she turns to the person who acknowledged her and realizes that she recognizes them, she's seen them on campus before. "and you're...don't tell me." her eyebrows pinch together as she thinks for a second, trying to recall who they are from her memory. the lightbulb moment of her remembering is clearly written across her face, a pleased expression spanning across her features. "colson. colson kim. i had you for biostatistics last semester."

Meeting her gaze as she turned toward him, he acknowledged the recognition. Teaching at the university brought both highs and lows, yet Colson, the seasoned educator, nurtured a sincere fondness for certain students. He admired the quiet yet intelligent ones, held in high regard the biochemists, and relished the challenge presented by sharp minds. Recognizing that not all students could be reached, especially those disinterested in learning, he reserved his wisdom for those genuinely intrigued by the subject matter. He championed his fellow biology nerds where he could, and remembers faces easily. "Your memory serves you well," Colson remarked with a subtle smile. "Colson Kim, indeed. I do recall Biostatistics. How's the new semester treating you?"

She watched Onyx curiously, her head cocking to one side. "I don't know" she admitted. "This is my first time stopping in here." She bit her lip a little bit. "Usually, I tend to go for the more quiet areas, but this time? I guess I was supposed to make a new acquaintance today."

Her admission of this being her first time in garners a celebratory grin, "Well, welcome to the realm of coffee and pie," he says, gesturing subtly to the bustling little cafe. "I tend to sneak off in the corners of the quiet places too, but as you can see, chaos follows me around."

—stargazing was not something Honey always found the time for, however, even when she could make the time she would choose a different past-time, like going out, dancing and clubbing. leap day celebrations and particularly this organized event had drew her attention; perhaps, she would also be able to get some nice shots for her platforms, but also showcase to her vast audience that she was interested in such activities, but also reveal a more romantic side of her personality. that is not to say that Lavere was not particularly romantic; she would be for the right person.

wandering amongst the people who were either taking turns looking through the telescopes provided or were setting up their own, she sought a tad more solitude, making her way further in the park. it appeared that another shared the same idea, but they had come prepared for the event, unlike her. she laughed a little at the comment, her gaze drifting to the night sky at the question that followed. “you mean it is pointless?” her tone quite with a hint of a playfulness. “honestly, your guess is as good as mine,” her brown eyes focused on the person with a small, gentle smile gracing her lips. “I just think constellations and stars are pretty, I know nothing more about it.” she revealed with a faint shrug of her slender shoulders.

Her candid admission about her limited knowledge of constellations and stars strikes a chord with Onyx. Despite his deep appreciation for the cosmic spectacle above, he lacks expertise in celestial navigation. "I find myself in the same boat," he confesses with a genial smile. "My solace lies in the sheer beauty of it. There's a comfort in being beneath the stars, wouldn't you agree?" As he speaks, the soft glow of the celestial bodies reflects in his chartreuse eyes, creating a shared moment of silent admiration between Onyx and the stranger in the park.