How Everything Changed for the Better

Chapter VII

I sit at my kitchen table, kicking my legs under the table, and texting back and forth. My ADHD is running right now. It is starting to get late for both me and Liz, and she is tired but is still listening to me ramble on. I have so much energy tonight, but I can't bring myself to stop.

Liz: I'll gladly sit here and listen to what you have to say, but I'll fall asleep eventually. I'm already starting to.

I hummed along to the music that was playing in the background, which was coming from my TV. I put on the music a while ago to read, but gave up soon after. I looked outside, and it was far past nightfall. The stars have started to shine brightly like the moon, and I smile. I have my next topic.

Hayden: Did you know one of my favorite interests is planets and stars?

I stand up, walking around my kitchen, almost pacing out of the overflowing energy I have.

Liz: I do now; thats cool. Why those?

I grin brightly at the question, happy that she wants to know more. I eagerly start writing a paragraph to explain my reasoning.

Hayden: Where I am right now, the moon and stars are always really bright, and when I was younger, I would stargaze out my window when I couldn't sleep. The stars feel like a reminder that I will always have a place somewhere, whether that be living or dead. It tells me I'm okay for now, and eventually things will calm down. The planets are really pretty; Saturn has always been my favorite. The moon is another thing I'm fond of. Moonlight always goes through my curtains at night.

Liz: That's amazing; I never thought of it like that. Now I know when I will get my license to go stargazing with you. I also like looking at the stars. I'm not big on planets, though.

I smile at the message about how she wants to go stargazing with me. She was thinking of us. I paused my walking to think about it. We are under the stars, possibly in a field, holding hands. Maybe it can lead to something more. I force myself to stop my train of thought, my face burning despite it getting colder outside now. It is early December already.

Hayden: I would love to go stargazing with you!

Liz: I have a place where we can go together. It was a place I went to clear my head.

A special place, I translate to myself, and I go back to pacing around my kitchen.

Hayden: That's amazing.

Liz, is there anything else I don't know that you like or want to share?

I stared at the question. This must be the billionth time I'm smiling at my phone now. But she wants to know more. I go to the living room, choosing to answer while I sit on the couch. The music is faint in the background now; my mind is whirring enough to hear white noise.

Hayden: Well, Saturn is my favorite planet, as you know. What makes it my favorite is its rings adding to the design. The rings aren't solid either, like most people tend to believe. Saturn also has more moons than any of the other planets in the solar system. It's also the second-largest. It's made of mostly hydrogen and helium, and you can't stand on its surface. It has too thick of an atmosphere, even though it's the least dense. The yellow color comes from ammonia, phosphine, and hydrocarbons in the atmosphere. My second favorite is the "methane blue planet," otherwise known as uranus. It has 27 moons, with 5 being the most major. It has 21-year-long seasons, and believe it or not, it also has a ring system, just like Saturn; it has both an inner and outer system. It's also known as an ice giant. It was the first planet to be discovered by a telescope.

Liz: wow! Thats interesting!

I check the time before I answer her. It was just past 10, which is a bit later than she usually goes to sleep.