Beneath The Stars

2

It's late at night and moonlight shines through her window, casting a blueish glow on everything in her bedroom. Aphelia holds her breath, she hopes that no one hears her leave. She tugs open the window and swings one leg over the windowsill, then the other. She's done it, she's escaped. 

She looks down and gulps, it's three storeys down. Heights have always scared her, but not as much as the ocean. 

She shuffles around and closes the window behind her. That's it, no turning back now, she thinks to herself. She blinks when the icy wind hits her face and she's thankful that she chose to wear her favorite woolly coat and track pants, despite how odd she looks. 

Her feet hit the grass and she pauses, she hadn't thought about what she'd do next.

She shoves her hands in her pocket and walks down the street, kicking pebbles across the pavement. She glances up and something catches her eye, it's a dog park with grassy hills and no playground. Just an open field, but she feels drawn to it. 

She pulls open the gate and climbs the hill, beyond it is a vast area of mint green grass and then a tangle of bushes and shrubs. It doesn't feel right to sit in an open field at night, so she wanders past the shrubs and into a forest-like place. The moonlight catches a spiderweb and she gasps at how magical it looks, it has dewdrops on it and a small turquoise spider nestled in the center. 

She turns away from the web and follows a thin trail that had been marked out, probably from drug dealers. She frowns at the thought and briefly considers turning back and going home, but continues into the thick of trees. 

Half an hour later, she's found a small hill hidden among the trees and the moon looks down on her from directly above. The grass is thick and long here, but she lays down anyways. She crosses her arms behind her head and stares up at the sky, she feels safe and comfortable. 

"Hello." She turns her head, startled and anxious. She hadn't recognized the boy whom was laying beside her, he looked roughly her age and he was watching the stars. "Hi." She replies, turning her head back to the glimmering sky. "Why're you here so late at night?" He asks. 

"Hiding, I guess." She shrugs. "From who?" "My problems. You?" She glances at the boy to find him smiling. "Same as you," He chuckles quietly, his hand accidentally brushes hers and he blushes wildly. She giggles and plays with the soft blades of grass between her fingers. 

"I'm Aphelia, by the way." "My name's Adrian."