Time Astral | Sirius Black

PROLOGUE

Tell me again, tell me about it again.

I think of all the days I'd spent. Alone. Scared. Terrified of myself.

He speaks again. "Tell me, have you ever loved?"

"Tell me, have you ever cried?"

"Tell me, have you ever thought of it as your home?"

"Tell me, have you ever wanted to run away?"

"Tell me, did you ever want to come back?"

"Tell me, did you know him?"

I shake my head. I did. I did know him, and her. But I dare not speak of it in front of him. I wouldn't admit it, I'd rather drown myself. But I felt afraid. I was afraid.

"I don't know anyone."

He's silent for some time. Then he speaks again, as though I'd never said a word. "Tell me, don't be afraid."

Don't be afraid. Don't be afraid. Don't be afraid. Don't be afraid. Don't be afraid. Don't be afraid. Don't be afraid. Don't be afraid. Don't be afraid. Don't be afraid. Don't be afraid. Don't be afraid. Don't be afraid. Don't be afraid. Don't be afraid. Don't be afraid. Don't be afraid. Don't be afraid. Don't be afraid. Don't be afraid. Don't be afraid. Don't be afraid. Don't be afraid. Don't be afraid. Don't be afraid. Don't be- "I did not know him."

"You're a strong girl," he says. I want to laugh. "You're very brave." I am a coward. "You have loved and you have lived." I have died, I died the moment I – "And you have been through some unfortunate circumstances." I have seen death, and I have seen life. I do not want to be here, I do not want to breathe – "I wish I could help you."

I wish I could help you. Help, yes I need help. "I don't know what you're talking about."

He sighs, as though only talking with me has given him the worst headache of his life. I do not blame him. "Child, I do not know what to do. I won't until you tell me, tell me what happened."

Tell me what happened, he says. Don't be afraid, he says. I wish I could help you, he says. Have you ever loved?

"I want to go home." Home. Do I have one? What does it even mean?

"So you shall." He's shaking his head. He gets up and stares at me for a moment before shaking his head again.

He takes my hand, I am watching him. I am watching, but my eyes are not seeing. They are somewhere else, lost in the smoke of silvery grey eyes which do not exist anymore.

I keep watching as he pushes a needle inside my arm, I do not stop him.

I don't say a word when more people come inside, when I am thoroughly surrounded. When I think I hear some familiar voices but I wouldn't know. I don't know because I don't remember, I don't remember a thing.

Only grey eyes, grey, star like shine. I am a pelting raindrop in that smoke. I am a drop which shatters just as the smoke unfurls.