The Brightest Stars

Annabelle

I miss her already.

I hold the velvet business card tight in my hand as I sit in the airport. Velvet is my first stop once I get to Spain. Both of my sisters sit beside me. They talk about things on the magazine Hannah is holding. I guess I'm the only one feeling nervous about this trip.

My farewell party never came to a start because Luna ended up in the hospital. I remember my blood boiling when I found out the reason to why she was all bruised up. When I went up to her room to say my last goodbye, I held her hand tight and reassured her that my goal is to become into the lawyer that will bring men like her father to jail.

"You and I both," she whispered to me with her sad smile.

I threatened to break. To cry with her, but I stayed strong as I brought her in for a gentle hug. One last hug.

Before I exited her room, I looked back at her one last time and gave her a small smile. In those bright green eyes I saw the same girl that greeted me just outside our debate class. She is still in there. My heart begged her to never let that girl go. Don't be like me, Luna.

With our one last look, we said goodbye and another piece of my heart broke off with her when I left the hospital.

I couldn't stop my tears from falling out when I said my goodbye to Kristen. It's inevitable to not suffer when you shared a great amount of life with that person. A person you know that will probably fade away from your grasp.

I know she felt this, too, as she held onto me at our last hug. So many flashbacks of moments where we held each other went through our minds as we gave each other one last teary look. A large piece of my heart was left behind with her as she gave my cheek a soft kiss and waved at me through the window. I promised her that I would not forget to text or call her. I have to forget to text or call her, though. But I hope she understands that I will never forget her.

She stays on my mind even as I look down at the Velvet card now. I said goodbye to all my friends. Xander, Nate, Julia, Diego, but the only people I didn't have a chance to give them a last hug were Ty, Skyler, and AJ.

AJ.

I don't seem to understand the sadness that my heart carries whenever I think of him.

The large room carries a soft voice over the speakers saying that it's time for my flight to go. I stand up and my sisters copy my quiet stance. We look at each other one more time and Hannah is the first to give me a gentle hug. Her soft face carries a hint of sadness for me. I'll miss her, too. I can't thank her enough for taking care of such a hand full of a girl like me.

"I love you," she whispers to me in Spanish.

"Thank you, Hannah, for everything," I whisper back. "I love you and I'm sorry if I ever made you angry about anything."

"I guess you did help me practice for my daughter." We share a small chuckle at this and we stay quiet; letting this moment sink in. I've explained to her everything. I gave them both the truth. They deserve to know after everything they've done for me....

Ainoha steps up and gives me a tight hug. We stay with this hug as I hear her breath reminding my lungs how it is to have healthy breathing. "Thank you, Ainoha," I whisper to her. "For every time you were there for me at the hospital."

She let's go and puts a loving hand on my cheek. Her eyes threaten to spill tears, but I've realized that we are very alike at how stubborn we can be with ourselves. How strong and firm we can be sometimes....

Ainoha gives me a tender kiss on my forehead and whispers to me so Hannah can't hear. "You need to be careful over there. Spain can be a very dangerous place. Don't trust anyone, but do trust Amelia and Rebecca--"