Chapter Text
ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ
To the girl who loves the stars and spends her nights connecting them into constellations.
Seria Aeliana Wynter
The first golden rays of morning seeped through the lace curtains, painting my room with soft, honeyed light. I stretched, letting the warmth spill across my arms, and tangled my fingers in my wavy golden-brown hair.
The sun was gentle today, like it was tiptoeing around the edges of the world so as not to wake anyone too harshly. I breathed it in, quiet and steady, and for a moment, the city outside felt miles away.
Last night… last night had been different. I had stayed out longer than I should have, lying in the cool grass underneath the heavy oak tree, eyes glued to the sky. A rare constellation appeared -- delicate, looping, almost impossible to trace and I couldn’t look away. My hand had moved on its own, writing it in my diary, the ink flowing like it had been waiting for me:
…maybe some things or some people are impossible to forget.
My chest had tightened a little as I wrote it, a reminder I couldn’t shake, and part of me wondered if some memories were meant to linger, no matter how far I tried to walk from them.
I swung my legs over the side of the bed, my bare feet brushing the cool wooden floor. My routine was my anchor -- a glass of water, brushing my hair until the waves fell exactly as I liked, stretching like I was reaching for the stars themselves.
I hummed softly, a note that barely escaped my lips, and let my mind drift through the day I wanted to shape: the library first, where the smell of old paper and quiet corners always made me feel at home. Then the café -- my favorite, of course to pick up a cappuccino, the perfect ritual for my Saturday mornings. And maybe, if time allowed, a short walk through the park, letting the city hum around me while I let my thoughts wander to constellations and patterns and all the quiet magic of the night sky.
The diary caught my eye again. The constellation glimmered across the page, silver ink tracing every delicate line. I touched it lightly, fingertips brushing over the design like I could feel the stars’ pulse beneath my hand. Somehow, the sky had a way of reminding me that the world was bigger than my little routines, bigger than the city, bigger even than the worries I tried to keep at bay.
A soft chime from my phone pulled me from my thoughts. “Seria, darling! Breakfast!” Mother’s voice called from the kitchen, bright and cheerful, making my chest lift in response. “It’s the weekend! Don’t keep me waiting your latte and almond croissants are ready!”
I groaned, a small smile tugging at my lips. “Coming, Mother!”
I pulled on my robe and let it settle around my shoulders, imagining the warm croissants and the steam curling from the coffee. Today felt ordinary, perfect in its routine, yet something fluttered quietly inside me a whisper of anticipation, a hint that maybe the day would have a surprise tucked inside it.
Pausing at my desk, I glanced at the open diary and the constellation I had mapped. I could feel its energy lingering, a tiny spark of magic in my fingers. Maybe it was the universe teasing me. Or maybe it was just a reminder that some things or some people had a way of finding you, no matter how far you thought you’d wandered.
I stepped toward the kitchen, letting the morning sun warm my face, and let myself smile. The city could wait. The stars could wait. For now, I had coffee, croissants, and a Saturday that was all mine and maybe, just maybe, a few little surprises that would find their way to me anyway.
I stepped into the kitchen, the warm smell of toasted bread and brewing coffee wrapping around me like a familiar hug. Mother hummed a tune as she plated almond croissants on the table, while Selena lounged in a chair with her legs crossed, half-watching the news, half-scrolling on her tablet.
“Morning, Liana,” Selena drawled, raising an eyebrow at me. “Already staring at the ceiling like some hopeless astronomer? Or are you obsessing over your stars again?” She smirked, clearly amused.
I rolled my eyes, trying to hide the small smile tugging at my lips. “I wasn’t obsessing! I was… appreciating the night sky. There’s a difference.”
“There’s a difference?” Selena snorted. “You’re hopeless. Seriously, one day you’ll crawl into a telescope and start talking to the stars like they’re your roommates.”
Mother chuckled softly from the counter. “Selena, don’t tease your sister too much. She’s just… passionate. That’s all.”
Selena shrugged, leaning back in her chair with a playful grin. “Passionate, obsessed -- potato, potahto.” She glanced at me and added, softer this time, “Don’t worry, Liana. I know you’re not hurting anyone… except maybe yourself when you stay up all night mapping constellations.”
I shrugged, trying not to admit she had a point. My fingers traced the rim of my coffee cup as I glanced out the window at the pale morning light. “It’s just… there’s something calming about it. When everything feels messy, the stars… they’re consistent. Predictable. Peaceful.”
Selena shook her head but didn’t argue, clearly giving me the space to wax poetic. “You sound like you’re writing poetry instead of having breakfast.”
I giggled, setting down the cup. “Maybe a little.”
Mother chimed in then, placing a hand on my shoulder. “So, what are your plans today, Seria? It’s the weekend, no lectures, no work. I want you to enjoy yourself.”
I leaned against the counter, thinking for a moment. “I was planning to go to the library. I need to return some books and… maybe check if they have anything new on constellations. I want to keep mapping last night’s one.”
Mother smiled approvingly. “Good. Quiet, calm… that suits you. Just don’t forget to eat properly, okay?”
Selena snorted, still lounging. “Yeah, Liana. And maybe don’t get lost in the library aisles for three hours like last time. You’ll start talking to the books next.”
I laughed softly. “I promise I won’t. Maybe.”
Selena shook her head again, but her grin softened. “Fine. Go map your little stars, obsessed astronomer. Just… don’t forget us little people down here.”
I rolled my eyes at her playful teasing but felt a warmth bloom inside. Even with her sarcasm, Selena always had my back, teasing me only made me feel closer to her, even if I’d never admit it out loud.
Breakfast continued with soft laughter, a few shared jokes, and the aroma of croissants filling the kitchen. With my backpack packed and my day mapped out -- library first, perhaps a quick café stop afterward -- I felt the small pulse of excitement.
Today was ordinary, predictable. Peaceful. But if last night had taught me anything, even in the calmest of mornings, the universe had a way of sneaking in surprises.
I hummed softly to myself as I opened my wardrobe, scanning the rows of neatly folded clothes. My fingers lingered on a soft cream blouse with tiny golden flowers embroidered along the collar, subtle, classic, exactly the sort of piece that felt like me. Paired with my favorite high-waisted trousers and comfortable loafers, I felt ready for the day ahead. I always liked starting with a little ritual of choosing clothes; it made me feel organized, purposeful, calm.
My desk caught my eye a small stack of notebooks slightly askew. Habitually, I straightened them, aligning the edges so perfectly they could have been a mirror. From the kitchen, I could hear Selena muttering something to Mother, probably teasing again about my obsession with stars, but I let it roll off. I poured myself a small cup of cappuccino, inhaling the sweet aroma before taking a delicate sip. My diary sat nearby, open to last night’s entry. I traced my pen along the edge, reading the words about the rare constellation I had glimpsed. Maybe some things or some people are impossible to forget.
I made a quick mental checklist for the day: library first, return overdue books, maybe find some new volumes on celestial maps. Quiet walks in the park later, coffee at the café I liked tucked on the corner of my favorite street. Everything simple, everything predictable. I liked it that way.
Sliding my bag over my shoulder, I stepped out into the streets of London. The air was crisp, tinged with the lingering scent of winter and something faintly floral from nearby gardens. Footsteps echoed softly on the pavement, mingling with the occasional clatter of distant bicycles or the hum of a car engine. I let my eyes wander, quietly noticing little things: a man carelessly tossing a wrapper into the street, a small pang of irritation flaring in me before I shook my head; the elegance of a bakery display, cinnamon rolls dusted with sugar glinting in the morning light.
Even as I walked, I catalogued the little joys and annoyances around me -- a habit, really, of someone who found comfort in observing and reflecting rather than rushing headlong into the chaos of life.
Soon enough, the familiar wrought-iron gates of the library appeared, standing like sentinels guarding the quiet sanctuary inside. I pushed the door open and I stepped inside the library, the familiar scent of old pages and polished wood wrapping around me like a comforting hug. The morning light spilled through the tall windows, catching dust motes in golden streams. I headed straight for the return desk, balancing the small stack of books I had finished last week.
“Good morning, Seria!” Ms. Pepper’s voice rang out cheerfully from behind the counter. She looked up from the ledger she was writing in, adjusting her glasses. “You’re early today. Much earlier than usual.”
I offered a small smile, placing the books neatly on the counter. “Morning, Ms. Pepper. Just… another ordinary day,” I replied, shrugging as if it explained everything.
She gave me a knowing look, one eyebrow slightly raised. “Ordinary, huh? For you, perhaps. Are you here to dive into the usual celestial and constellation books again?”
“Exactly,” I said, my eyes lighting up. “Have any new arrivals?”
“Yes,” she said, her smile widening. “Just came in yesterday. You should check the Constellation Corner --- right by the astronomy shelves. You might find something that sparks your curiosity.”
I nodded, thanking her before turning to head toward the familiar corner. Even with the quiet of the library around me, my mind buzzed with anticipation. There was always something new to discover, some hidden pattern in the stars waiting for me to find it.
The Constellation Corner appeared just as I remembered: tall shelves lined with books of all sizes, some worn from frequent use, others pristine with gold-lettered titles.
I let my hand brush over the spines as I wandered deeper, familiar with every corner, every nook where sunlight fell just right. I loved books because they were constant knowledge waiting patiently for those willing to seek it. Unlike people, unlike life, they didn’t disappoint.
Still, a small, fleeting thought crossed my mind a memory of Hogwarts, of rivalry and long afternoons spent trying to outdo someone who could never seem to stay out of my mind. Some things are better left in the past, I told myself. Better left untouched.
Settling into my favorite seat by the window, I opened my diary once again, the pages whispering familiar comfort. My pen hovered for a moment, and then I wrote a single thought: The stars might be constant, but life? Life always has a way of changing.
I didn’t know it yet, but the universe had plans today that were anything but constant.