An Astronomer's Guide to Falling Angels

Chapter 28

The morning sunlight filtered through the blinds in Lukas's living room, casting soft shadows across the room where everyone sat. The mood was sombre, each of them wrapped in their own thoughts about Arty and the uncertainty of her fate. Tyr sat stiffly in a chair, clearly feeling out of place, her hands clasped together in her lap. She'd barely spoken since she arrived, overwhelmed by the weight of everything she'd learned about her sister in such a short span of time.

Astor was still upstairs, resting. Exhausted. He hadn't been down since the night before, and no one had the heart to ask him to come down.

Tyr, sensing the quiet tension, hesitated before breaking the silence. "Can you tell me more about her?" Her voice was soft, unsure. "I... I didn't know her the way you all did. I wish I had." She looked down at her hands, fidgeting. "I want to know who she really was."

The group exchanged glances, and for a moment, no one spoke. Then Lukas, always the most eager to lighten the mood, smiled. "Well, Arty... she was full of surprises. I remember this one time—at school, we had this talent show, right? I figured Arty would just sit it out, you know, like she usually does with that kind of stuff. But then, out of nowhere, she signs up for the music act. I was like, Arty? Playing music? And not just any music—she picked this hardcore punk song. Gets up there, eyes blazing like she's ready to tear the world apart, and just shreds. The whole crowd was losing it." He chuckled, shaking his head. "She wasn't exactly graceful, but she was fearless. She didn't care what anyone thought. And honestly, she had more guts than half the people in that room."

Tyr's lips twitched into a small smile. "That sounds like something she'd do."

Louis, seated by the window, chimed in next. Her voice was quieter, more reflective. "I didn't know her as long as some of the others, but she always stood up for me. Even when I barely knew her, when I felt out of place. We weren't friends at first, but Arty—she just knew. She'd give you this look, like she could see straight through all your bullshit." Louis glanced over at Tyr. "I remember this one time, I was having a really bad day. I hadn't told anyone, but Arty just... found me sitting outside, not saying a word. She sat next to me for hours. Didn't ask any questions, didn't push me to talk. She just sat there until I was ready. I think she understood, you know? How to be there without saying a word."

Meredith leaned forward, resting her arms on her knees. "She had a stubborn streak, no doubt about that. One time, we were all sparring—training after school. Arty had a busted shoulder from a fight a few days earlier, but there she was, refusing to sit out. I warned her not to push it, but she wouldn't listen. Halfway through, she dislocated her arm again, and instead of stopping, she just pops it back in herself and keeps going. She wasn't afraid of pain, not like most people. It was almost like she'd already felt worse."

James, her legs curled under her on the couch, spoke up next. "She didn't let me off easy. At first, when I came to this school, I didn't know anyone. I thought I could just coast through, put on a front, be the person people wanted me to be. But Arty saw right through that. She didn't coddle me or let me play the part I was used to. She challenged me. Pissed me off, to be honest." James smiled faintly. "But I needed it. She called me out when no one else dared to. She was... well, she was the person you didn't expect to need in your life, but once she's there, you can't imagine not having her."

Oda sat in the corner, her arms crossed. She hadn't spoken for a while, just listening, but now she leaned forward. "Arty was... she was the only person who never tried to change me. She was reckless, sure, but she was my kind of reckless. You could count on her for anything. And not just when things were good. I remember this one night, when I was at my lowest. Just drunk off my ass, spiralling. I thought I'd lost everything, and then Arty shows up. Doesn't judge, doesn't even say a word. She just sat with me on the curb until morning. Like Louis said, sometimes she didn't have to say anything at all to make you feel like you weren't alone."