Ryder's POV
The silence between us was warm, filled with a strange sense of peace I hadn’t felt in years. Amara’s head rested on my shoulder, and I could feel the soft rhythm of her breathing. It felt fragile, like the moment might shatter if I moved too suddenly or said the wrong thing.
I broke the silence, my voice quiet. “You know, I used to hate the stars.”
She stirred, her head tilting up to look at me. “What? Why?”
“They reminded me of all the things I couldn’t reach,” I admitted, keeping my gaze fixed on the sky. “No matter how much I wanted them, they were always too far away. Untouchable.”
She was quiet for a moment, her eyes softening. “And now?”
I turned to her, my heart aching at the vulnerability in her expression. “Now I think the stars are worth admiring... b
