left for dead ♡ gabriel #Wattys2019

prologue

"The stars Felicity," Felicity's little sister jumped around in front of her, with her sweater sleeves pulled over her hands and flapping in the wind. "Look at the stars!"

Felicity blinked up from the book cupped in her lap and smiled at her sister, "Can you tell me their names?" She followed her sisters admirable gaze into the night sky, where twinkling lights awaited her view.

Iris laughed, her childish giggle enraptured Felicity with a new found wave of calmness. "I already told you them last night!"

Felicity let out a breathy laugh and closed her book, setting it beside her. She leaned forward and grabbed her sister into a loose hug, making her laugh loudly and squirm in her sister's arms.

"Can you believe I already forgot them? I want to know the starts like you do, Iris." Felicity grinned and look up at the constellations as her little sister began to calm down enough to begin listing off every star she knew.

Felicity listened, even if she already knew the names and placement and a lot more than what Iris knew. She listened to her with a peaceful smile as her sister slowly pulled herself to sleep with knowledge.

Before her eyes fluttered shut, she hurried her head into her sister's chest and mumbled,"Do you have to go away next week?"

Felicity sighed and pressed a kiss to her sister's head, closing her eyes to keep her tears at bay. "Yeah, Lilith already paid for it, but I'll be back before you know it."

"But I'm gonna miss you."

"I'm gonna miss you too, bug, but you can look at the sky at night just like we are tonight and know that just a little ways away I'm looking at the same sky. Just keep telling me the names so I never forget. Okay?"

Iris let out a breath and snuggled closer to her sister,"Okay."