Chapter 1

The air crackled with a quiet energy that mirrored the glittering canvas above. Skyler, all of 26 years. Lay sprawled across a blanket on Crescent Hill. Her eyes traced the infinite tapestry of stars. For as long as she could remember, the night sky held her fascination. Tonight was extra special.” The elusive comet P12/Pons-Brooks was predicted to streak across the heavens. A celestial visitor returning after decades.

A rustle startled her. Skyler turned to see a figure silhouetted against the moonlit crest of the hill. It approached hesitantly. The moonlight revealed an older woman. Lines of experience etched across a kind face.

“Mind if I join you?” The woman asked. Her voice was soft as the breeze.

“Not at all.” Skyler replied, scooting over. “Though you might be a tad late. The comet’s best viewing window is nearly over.”

“Oh, I know.” The woman smiled. Settling beside her. “Comets are fickle things, aren’t they? Perhaps this one is simply shy.”

Silence fell, but it wasn’t an awkward silence. It was a shared reverence for the cosmic dance above.

“You seem to know your way around the heavens.” The woman finally said.

“Trying to.” Skyler laughed. “I’ve been an enthusiast since I was a kid. There’s just something.” She struggled for the word, then settled on “Magical about the whole thing.”

The older woman tilted her head. A twinkle in her eye. ‘Magical? Oh, you have no idea. Let’s just say. I used to believe in a different kind of magic. Before I started looking at the stars for a living.’

Skyler’s eyes widened. “You’re an astronomer?”

The woman chuckled. “Dr. Ann Wilson, yes. Though the lab coat and telescope are tucked away for the night.”

Skyler felt a thrill run through her. An actual astronomer! They talked for hours. The conversation flowed effortlessly. Dr. Wilson was not simply a well of knowledge. But also possessed a deep love for the cosmos. A love that echoed Skyler’s own.

“You have a good eye.” Dr. Wilson remarked as the first hints of dawn began to paint the horizon. “And a curious mind. Ever thought of pursuing astronomy more seriously? I could always use a sharp assistant”

It was said half in jest, yet Skyler felt a spark ignite. Was it possible?

“You’re serious?” she breathed.

Dr. Wilson simply smiled. “Life takes unexpected turns. Doesn’t it? Like the paths of comets themselves.” She pulled a small card out of her pocket. “Should the spark linger, my dear. Give me a call. No promises. But perhaps we can chart a course through the stars together.”

Fluttering with a mix of awe and giddy excitement. Skyler took the card. Before she could process what was happening. Dr. Wilson turned and walked back towards the hill’s crest. Her figure melted into the hazy dawn.

As the first rays of the sun colored the sky. Skyler gazed at Dr. Wilson’s retreating form. Then back down at the card in her hand. She might have missed the comet. But somewhere amidst the fading starlight. She had stumbled upon something potentially far more extraordinary. The night, it seemed. Had held a magic of its own.

Back in the stark reality of her tiny apartment. Skyler sank into her worn armchair. Still buzzing from the encounter. The night air had seeped into her clothes with the chill of dawn. But her heart held a warmth that couldn’t be explained away by temperature alone.

Dr. Ann Wilson. Her name echoed in Skyler’s mind. Stirring both respect and boundless curiosity. Sleep was a distant prospect. Instead, the sky was still painted faintly in her mind’s eye. Skyler reached for her laptop The card. Tucked safely in her pocket. Seemed to pulse with possibility.

Her fingers danced over the keyboard - ‘Dr. Ann Wilson, astronomer’. The search results popped up with satisfying speed. Academic papers. A few interviews in obscure online science journals. there it was an article from a few years back with the headline. ‘Renowned Astronomer Continues Elusive Search for Dark Matter’. Skyler’s heart pounded harder. Dark matter. That elusive substance supposedly holds the universe together. Not just stargazing. But peering into the heart of cosmic mysteries. Her fascination with the sky deepened by an order of magnitude. This wasn’t just childhood wonder. Dr. Wilson was at the frontier of human understanding.

She read with growing intensity. There were mentions of groundbreaking theories. Years spent on painstaking observations. Collaborations with leading physicists ... and an unshakable determination woven through the technical language. Dr. Wilson, the kind woman on a moonlit hill. Was a force in the scientific world.

Skyler leaned back. Awe rippling through her. Was she seriously considering this? It was terrifying, exhilarating ... a total upheaval of her safe little world. One wrong decimal point. And everything could blow up in her face.

Yet, something inside her. The same spark that had drawn her to the night sky all those years ago. Burned even brighter. As the sunlight finally began to pierce through her window. Bathing the room in a pale light. Skyler knew she was looking at more than just search results. She was looking at a crossroads.

Back in her cozy apartment. Lined with bookshelves and smelling faintly of coffee and old paper. Dr. Ann Wilson couldn’t help but replay the night’s encounter. Skyler. There was a vibrancy about the young woman. A raw passion for the cosmos stirred a nostalgic warmth in Ann.

Her journey into astronomy had sprung from that same sense of childlike wonder. But years of research, and calculations. Grant proposals had inevitably chipped away at some of that wide-eyed enchantment. Skyler’s enthusiasm was a tonic. A reminder of the pure joy that lay at the heart of her own life’s work.

But that wasn’t all. Ann found herself mulling over something else entirely. Skyler seemed ... well, fit. The way she’d clambered up Crescent Hill with ease. The lean strength was visible beneath her casual clothes. Ann let out a soft, self-deprecating chuckle. It had been years. Perhaps decades. since she’d last thought about her fitness in such terms.

The truth was, Ann still loved to climb. Not the high-risk endeavors of her youth.But the controlled challenge of a good climbing wall. The rush of finding the perfect handhold. The burn of pushing her body just that little bit further. Yet, most climbing partners in her circle were preoccupied with their research and families. Or had simply lost interest.

A wistful pang hit her. Followed by a surprising flicker of excitement. Skyler had looked strong. As they talked. There had been a zest in her movements. A sense of someone used to physical endeavors. The idea, a ridiculous one at first. Began to take shape. It would be presumptive bordering on absurd to ask. Wouldn’t it? To approach this young woman on the off-chance she might. Might, be a climber as well? Surely the thrill of the night sky was quite separate from the allure of the sheer rock face.

But that thought ... it stuck with her. The chance to share her love of the outdoors. To find someone who got it? That was pretty tempting. And then, out of nowhere. She saw Skyler’s face – those bright eyes. That goofy smile. Okay maybe ... Just maybe. There was more to this starstruck stranger than she realized.

Days turned into a restless blur for Skyler. Working at the local bookstore. Her thoughts constantly wandered back to that night on the hill. She couldn’t stop replaying her conversation with Dr. Wilson. Finding new meaning in the astronomer’s words. Something about their shared enthusiasm resonated with her. Academia still felt intimidating. But the promise of chasing something extraordinary ... that propelled her forward.

Ann tapped her pen against the desk, restless. The equations on her screen blurred – dark matter suddenly as distant as a fading star. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard. But it was Skyler’s laugh that echoed in her ears. Her determined chin jutted out as she debated a theory. Was this just missing a partner for intellectual sparring? Or was something more ... something warmer ... taking root inside her?

One evening. As Skyler gazed out her window at a sky stubbornly veiled by city lights. She reached a decision. Sleepless nights and distracted days were proof enough. Taking a deep breath. She pulled up Dr. Wilson’s email address. The contact card was a beacon in her inbox. After a few false starts. She managed to compose a short, simple message.

Dear Dr. Wilson. I hope it’s not too forward. But I was wondering if you’d be interested in meeting up again. Perhaps for coffee? I enjoyed our conversation immensely. Regards, Skyler

Ann’s heart nearly jumped out of her chest when her phone buzzed. Skyler? Oh boy. A rush of nervous energy made her fingers clumsy as she opened the email. A huge grin spread across her face – okay, so she wasn’t going crazy after all. Her reply took about two seconds to type.

Dear Skyler, Forward indeed, but not entirely unwelcome. Coffee sounds lovely. How about Saturday morning at the Bluebird Cafe? Best, Ann

We moved like a dance. Every word and glance is a step. There was something unspoken. A shared understanding. Eagerness, yes. But a joy that held its breath too. Like we were uncovering a secret. Just for the two of us. That spark on the hill bathed in moonlight – it had the chance to burn brighter. The question lingered ... could we be brave enough to feed that flame?

We moved like a dance. Every word and glance is a step. There was something unspoken. A shared understanding. Eagerness, yes. But a joy that held its breath too. Like we were uncovering a secret. Just for the two of us. That spark on the hill bathed in moonlight – it had the chance to burn brighter. The question lingered ... could we be brave enough to feed that flame?

Ann was already seated by the window. A book open on the table beside her. She looked up as Skyler approached. A warm smile eased the younger woman’s apprehension.

Coffee was ordered, pleasantries exchanged, and yet an almost tangible energy pulsed between them. Each stolen glance. Every brush of fingers against shared mugs held a hesitant promise.

“So.” Ann began, unable to contain her curiosity any longer. “You mentioned on the hill physical endeavors, I believe?”

Skyler felt a blush creep up her neck. “Guilty as charged. I, um, do enjoy rock climbing whenever I get the chance.”

Ann’s eyes sparkled. “You don’t say! There are a few decent indoor gyms around if you’re ever looking for a climbing partner.” The offer was made casually. But the hope behind it was undeniable.

Skyler felt a thrill course through her. “I might just take you up on that. Honestly, I miss having someone to climb with.”

The words flowed like water after that. They climbed mental mountains and explored cosmic wonders. Geeked out over the perfect way to tie a climbing knot ... then detoured into the wild world of quantum physics. It was music, rainy days, and a shared sense of humor that twinkled in their eyes.

As the afternoon waned, it felt as though they’d entered a world set apart. A space carved just for them. The question hanging unspoken in the air was not ‘if’ they would meet again. But rather ‘when’ and ‘how much’ they were willing to risk.

They left the cafe and stepped out into the twilight. The world washed clean by the receding rain. An unspoken understanding.

“There’s this viewing spot outside the city.” She said, her voice slightly husky. “If you’re interested maybe we could try and catch another glimpse of that comet?”

Skyler’s heart leapt. “I thought you’d never ask.”

The drive out of the city was all giggles and the kind of quiet you only find with someone you really know. They laid out the blanket, the grass still feeling cool and damp from the morning. It wasn’t like their first time here. The sky, huge and wide and sprinkled with stars, felt like it held something new. A chance to learn the stars, and maybe learn each other too.

As darkness enveloped them, the stars emerged like diamonds scattered on black velvet. Ann expertly set up the small portable telescope. Its lens a silver eye pointed heavenward. Skyler, no longer an audience of one. Eagerly helped adjust the focus. A sense of shared purpose coursing through her.

The comet, though faint. Shimmered into view. A cosmic smudge against infinity. They took turns peering through the lens. Their gasps of awe blending in the chilled night air.

This is incredible. Skyler thought. Her heart pounding with a mix of excitement and awe.

Ann turned from the telescope. Finding Skyler’s gaze fixed on her. The younger woman’s eyes held a mixture of excitement and a flicker of something more uncertain.

“You know,” Skyler began hesitantly. “When we first met I didn’t realize you were well, not my age.”

Ann felt a faint smile tug at her lips. “And when you found out I’m capable of using phrases like ‘not my age’, did you reconsider?”

Skyler laughed, the sound mingling with the gentle chirp of crickets. “Not at all. But She trailed off. Then with a burst of openness said. “It’s just, I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t thought about it. Whether it would matter.”

Ann took a deep breath. The crisp night air sharpened her senses. “Skyler, I won’t lie either. I’ve considered it too. But age, like the distances between stars. Is just one measurement.” She reached out. Gently touching Skyler’s hand. “It might shape our lives. But it doesn’t define our possibilities...”

Her words resonated in the stillness. Skyler felt the flutter of a hundred unspoken anxieties quiet within her. “Tell me about the search.” She said, voice soft. “For dark matter, I mean.”

Ann turned her gaze back to the stars. Her features illuminated by their distant glow. Her passion, always present. Burned a little brighter with Skyler by her side. She spoke then of invisible forces shaping the universe. Of theories born from meticulous calculations and audacious leaps of imagination.

As her voice trailed off. A comfortable silence enveloped them. Ann turned to Skyler and asked gently. “And what about you? You seem to have a fire for this. But it’s clear you’ve held back.”

Skyler sighed. Feeling exposed yet oddly liberated. “Being an astronomer never seemed realistic. It’s a dream for kids, not something you actually pursue.”

“Is this still feeling like some crazy dream?” Ann asked. With a playful glint in her eye.

Something shifted within Skyler. “No.” She admitted, “But, it’s still scary. Starting over, leaving everything familiar.”

“And potentially,” Ann said, meeting Skyler’s gaze with gentle intensity. “Leaving someone behind?”

Skyler’s breath caught. It was unspoken, yet heavy in the air that pulled between them. An undeniable attraction. But with it came the stark reality of the choices they would have to make.

The comet faded a distant echo of its former brilliance. Ann and Skyler watched. The unspoken questions between them were as heavy as the night. Their future. Like the secrets, Ann chased in the stars. Felt both boundless and uncertain. A thrilling kind of fear.

Their love of all things space brought them to the top of a dark hill this clear night. They’d set up their telescopes and lawn chairs. As they stared at the stars. They realized something was different. That usual nerdy excitement had turned into something more, something deeper. They felt connected to the universe. Sure, but also to each other. The air was cool, and the crickets were loud a perfect soundtrack for the night.

Skyler’s gaze darted upwards, her hand flying out to point. “Look,” she exclaimed. A breathless wonder colored her voice. “A meteor.”

Dr. Wilson followed her outstretched finger. A gasp escaped his lips. The meteor was indeed a sight to behold. It blazed across the night sky. Leaving a trail of shimmering light that danced like a celestial ribbon. An awed silence fell between them. They sat there. Transfixed by the breathtaking display. Their hands brushed as they leaned in closer. Unconsciously seeking shared warmth under the vast starry expanse.

Ann whispered into Skyler’s ear “You know when I was your age I had my back tattooed with, the constellations and stars visible from Earth. Do you think I should get them finished?” The thought of such a beautiful image adorning Ann’s back sent goosebumps over Skyler’s skin. She reached out tentatively, tracing her fingers along Ann’s palm.

“This is so beautiful,” Skyler whispered. “But I wish we could see them for real.” She leaned in. Their faces were so close their breath intertwined. For a moment, they simply stared at the sky. The meteor was just a memory. But the stars ... the stars seemed to burn brighter than ever. Ann shrugged off her sweater. Then slowly peeled her shirt down. Revealing a smooth expanse of tattooed skin on her back for Skyler to see. Skyler’s eyes widened looking at the intricate design of a map of stars and constellations. Swirling across Ann’s back like a permanent reminder of her lifelong fascination with astronomy. It was breathtaking.

“It’s beautiful,” Skyler whispered. Tracing her fingers over the lines of the constellations. “It feels like they’re almost coming to life under your touch.” She leaned in closer. Pressing her lips against Ann’s shoulder blade. The older woman shivered, her body arching into the contact.

They sat in silence for a moment. Lost in their thoughts and the beauty of the night sky. Then, almost as if by instinct. Skyler reached around and began to unbutton Ann’s pants. The older woman helped her pull them down. Revealing her soft, pale skin beneath.

Skyler’s fingers traced lightly over Ann’s hip. Following the gentle curve of her body. She leaned in closer. Pressing her lips against the soft flesh. Feeling the heat of Ann’s skin through her own. The older woman moaned softly, arching her back further into the touch.

As their passion continued to build, they moved away from the telescopes. Their lawn chairs are now forgotten beneath them. They found a more comfortable spot. Lying on a blanket on the cool grass. Their bodies entwined. Ann’s hands roamed freely over Skyler’s lithe form. Exploring every inch of her skin. Skyler savored the taste of Ann’s neck, her shoulders, and her breasts.

Ann smiling at Skyler you think age and gravity are working? I don’t think so. Her hands moved down Skyler’s body. Tracing the soft curves of her hips. Before slipping between her legs. She was wet, already aroused by their passionate embrace. Ann’s fingers found their rhythm, teasing and pleasuring Skyler. As they lay together on the blanket beneath the starry sky.

Skyler arched her back. Her breath caught in her throat. As Ann’s touch sent waves of pleasure through her. She reached down, gripping Ann’s hand. Guiding it as she felt the need for release growing stronger. The older woman smiled, understanding the unspoken demand. Increased the pace of her fingers. Her lips moved lower on Skyler’s body. Tasting and teasing the soft flesh beneath her.

The stars seemed to dance above them. Their light flickering as if in sympathy with their passion. The air was alive with the scent of grass and sweat. The distant sounds of crickets and frogs. Ann shifted her weight, positioning herself between Skyler’s legs. Slowly, gently, Her fingers began to enter her. The younger woman cried out. Arching her back, her fingernails dug into Ann’s shoulders as their bodies became one beneath the starry sky.

Ann knows how to pleasure her lover slowly brings Skyler to her breaking point. Their eyes locked on each other as they shared this intimate moment under the stars. Their breathing becomes labored. Their bodies move in perfect synchronicity. Each motion sends shockwaves of pleasure through them. The grass beneath them feels cool and damp against their sweaty skin. The air is thick with the heady scent of their arousal.

Ann’s movements become more urgent. More desperate. As she senses Skyler’s impending release. She reaches down, gripping her hips tightly. Guiding her movements deeper inside. Skyler cries out. Her body tense and shuddering as waves of ecstasy wash over her. Ann follows her. Arching her back, letting out a hoarse cry of pleasure as their bodies finally gave in to the inevitable.

Their pulses finally ease into a rhythm. They sit up. The world tilts slightly as they support each other. Ann reaches blindly for a blanket. Her fingers traced its softness before wrapping it around them. They settle back onto the grass, bodies brushing. The cool night air raises goosebumps on their skin. A jolt back to reality after the soft haze of their connection.

You could feel the tension between them, a silent hum in the air. It wasn’t just about how they looked at each other, though there was that. It was like ... they recognized something in the other person, something they couldn’t quite name.

Ann wasn’t prepared for it. This surge inside her. Years dormant, awakened by the simple brush of Skyler’s hand. The warmth flooding her wasn’t just about the cold anymore.

The telescope lay abandoned, its mission secondary now. The night sky. With its celestial wonders. Seemed to hold its breath. A silent witness to the unfolding drama playing out on the grassy slope.

“It’s getting late,” Skyler said, her voice a hesitant whisper. It was both a statement of fact and a test. An unspoken question hanging in the air.

Ann didn’t meet her gaze immediately. She needed a moment to gather her thoughts. Her courage. When she finally did. She saw the same mix of yearning and trepidation reflected in Skyler’s eyes.

“It is.” She agreed, her voice slightly husky. She reached out. In a gesture both bold and vulnerable, tucked a stray lock of hair behind Skyler’s ear.

Their fingers brushed, the contact electrifying. Skyler shivered. A small sound escaped her lips. It was the unspoken invitation Ann had been waiting for.

Leaning in. Ann closed the distance between them. Her touch was gentle and exploratory. Her lips met Skyler’s, a tentative press at first. Then deepening into a kiss that stole the breath from them both.

It was a world away from stolen kisses in the back rows of cinemas or fumbling teenage encounters. This was two souls. Adrift in their ways. Finding a moment of exquisite connection. There was a touch of desperation. A hint of fear, but underpinning it all was an undeniable surge of joy.

When they pulled away. It was with a shared gasp. In the starlit darkness, their eyes met, wide and brimming with a mix of wonder and uncertainty. The world seemed to have tilted on its axis.

“I...” Skyler began, but her words caught in her throat.

Ann placed a finger on her lips. “Let’s not say anything.” She whispered. “Not tonight.”

The car thrummed beneath them on the drive back. The city lights blurring past the window. Each stolen glance burned hotter in the darkness. The ghost of their kiss lingered on their skin, at Skyler’s door. The silence was heavy. Ripe with a want neither could quite voice.

Wordlessly, Skyler leaned in. Her kiss this time filled with a quiet determination. Ann responded in kind. The pent-up energy of the night demands an outlet, a release.

On her doorstep, Skyler pulled back. Her hand lingered on Ann’s cheek for a fleeting moment. “Tomorrow,” she murmured. The promise is heavy in the still air.

Ann nodded. A tremor ran through her as she turned to leave. It wasn’t just the night. Extraordinary as it had been. It was the promise of the future tomorrow. Filled with the unknown. Both frightening and impossibly alluring.

Ann’s apartment. Normally a haven of comforting familiarity. Felt charged with an almost alien energy. The scent of Skyler lingered on her skin. Mixing with her musky warmth. She sank into her armchair. Her body still buzzing with the echoes of their shared embrace.

Her mind raced. Was it too much, too soon? The age gap. The sudden, heady rush of intimacy. It was a lot to take in. And yet, a rebellious joy flickered deep inside. For years, she’d put aside any thought of desire. Of romance. Her work, her intellectual pursuits. Had been all-consuming. But Skyler. Her bright eyes and unbound enthusiasm. Had reawakened something Ann thought long dormant.

A sense of vulnerability crept in. Experience didn’t mean expertise, not in this realm of fluttering hearts and breathless kisses. Skyler was so young. So untouched by the world’s cynicism. Had Ann taken advantage. Swept away in her own starved desire? The thought sent a pang of guilt through her.

Meanwhile, in the hushed confines of her small apartment. Skyler lay awake. Her mind was a whirlwind. Dr. Ann was an enigma. A woman of quiet strength and a startling passion. The feel of her hands. The way she guided and surrendered, was seared into Skyler’s memory.

How did she know? She wasn’t asking with any sense of judgment, only pure, unadulterated awe. Ann had read her body. Coaxed-out responses Skyler hadn’t even known she was capable of. It was intoxicating. Empowering, and more than a little terrifying. Skyler had never been with a woman before. Despite her openness. A hint of insecurity whispered doubts in her mind.

Could Ann possibly see past her inexperience? Was this incredible woman truly interested in someone so ... unaccomplished? The very questions that plagued Ann echoed in Skyler’s thoughts.

As dawn finally painted the horizon. Both women drifted into a fitful sleep. Haunted by a mix of desire and disquiet. They had each taken a step into uncharted territory. A leap of faith spurred by an undeniable connection. But the euphoria of the night was now tempered by the stark realities of the morning. The path ahead was shrouded in beautiful, but terrifying, possibilities.

The phone rang with Ann picked up “Ann,” Skyler started, her voice barely above a whisper, “I don’t want to. Well, I don’t want to make things weird.”

Skyler laughed. A shaky sound that held both relief and a nervous edge. “Last night was amazing.” She finally managed a soft exhalation. “I’ve never felt anything like that. But I’m also ... I don’t know ... a little freaked out.”

Her voice trailed off. She lowered her voice. Ann’s heart clenched. Had she misread the situation entirely? Was Skyler regretful, or embarrassed?

“Skyler. I’m coming over right now. We need to talk about this. Whatever it is, just say it. Ann throws on her shorts and top, flies out the door, and knocks at Skyler’s in no time. Skyler, still in her robe, answers the door to find Ann.

Looking up. Skyler’s eyes met Ann’s. The older woman saw the flicker of fear amidst a wellspring of raw honesty. “I’m worried,” Skyler admitted, “That I’m not enough. You’re so brilliant, so experienced, and I’m just”

Just what’s going on?” Ann asked softly, her touch gentle.

“Just Skyler. Not a scientist. Not a climber with decades of skill. Not someone worthy of all this.” Skyler gestured at her apartment, her life, with a touch of self-deprecating humor.

Ann leaned back, her gaze thoughtful. “Skyler,” she began. Choosing her words carefully. “Age and accomplishments. Those are labels, useful for resumes, perhaps. but not not measures of the heart. Who you are, the passion you hold. it shone through the moment we met. And last night...”

She paused, brushing a stray strand of hair from Skyler’s face. “Last night, you were everything. Don’t you dare diminish that?”

Ann’s voice was raw. Honest ... vulnerable. Skyler hadn’t heard that in years. It hit hard this wasn’t just nerves, not just feeling inexperienced. This was Ann. Letting her guard slip. Showing the uncertainty hidden beneath that picture-perfect facade.

“But you’re Dr. Wilson. The astronomer.” Skyler protested. Her voice was still laced with doubt.

Ann sighed, a small, genuine laugh escaping her. “And Dr. Wilson was once a stargazing girl sitting on a hilltop. full of the same wonder I saw in you. It’s still in here.” she tapped her chest. “Sometimes it just gets a little buried.”

Skyler reached out and took Ann’s hand again. A new understanding dawned in her eyes. Perhaps this wasn’t a tale of an expert and a novice. But of two women, separated by years yet tethered by shared desires. The thrilling terror of opening their hearts to something unexpected.

A wave of understanding washed over Skyler as Ann’s words sunk in. Their intimacy wasn’t about a one-sided equation of experience and expertise. It was about a shared vulnerability. A hunger for a spark neither of them had felt in far too long.

“You know.” Ann began, her voice softening. “I was afraid too. Not of last night...” She glanced at Skyler with a hint of a smile. “Though that was undoubtedly terrifying in its way.”

Skyler’s cheeks flushed. A nervous giggle escaped her lips.

Ann continued. “I was afraid of approaching you on that hill. Of this connection. Because of our age difference...” She let the confession hang in the air. A weight she’d carried silently for days.

Skyler’s eyes went wide. ‘You were? I never even thought of that!’

“I know,” Ann reached across the table. Squeezing Skyler’s hand once more. “But the truth is, it felt reckless. Dangerous. You were so young. So full of potential. And I didn’t want to get in the way of that. It seemed.”