“Do you ever want to go back?”

She turned and gazed out the window, leaning against the sill. The wind swept her long brown curls back over her shoulders. He watched her back muscles tighten and arms shiver as she closed in on herself, going back to that damp dark place, years ago.

“Remember the stars…”

Glittering rock formations clung to the ceiling of the cave, sparkling in the low light that bounced down the well and filtered to them. They lay on their backs, arms intertwined, toes working into the fine sand, and counted the cave stars. He pointed, she laughed. The echoes surrounded them as he turned to her and touched her cheek.

“I remember.”

He stood and pulled his robe tightly around his shoulders. The crown had slipped forward; he pushed it back into place. She turned around with a sigh. A night like any other night, mouths to feed and entertain and persuade and avoid. She straightened her shoulders and led him from the room, the gemstones on her crown shining like colored stars.