[private] we need the dark to know the light; hourglass

[Hourglass]

She recognizes that look on his face. It’s the same way most look at her and her sister; almost pity, but not quite. Like they are worried and afraid for them, an instinctual need to protect something that is fragile from a world meant to break them. She is convinced, though, that she cannot break. Young and reckless and naive, she thinks her intangibility will always save her, that because nothing can touch her, nothing can shatter her apart. She does not realize that the heart inside of her chest is made entirely of glass, too. She does not realize that her intangibility cannot protect her against other intangible things — like hurt, heartbreak, and grief.

She does not realize emotional bruises and scars are far more damaging than anything her physical body will withstand.

She does not try to assuage his fears though. She will show him, as she does everyone, that she is not as fragile as she seems.

Her brilliant smile does not dim, but in fact finds a way to brighten at the sight of the star that falls from the sky, her eyes widening in delight as she laughs. “A star!” Her red nose stretches towards the glowing orb of light, but she does not touch it. Instead she dips her head in greeting, her delicate nose nearly touching the galaxy on her chest. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Astrum.” And then her light colored eyes flicker back to his amethyst ones, with her own smile for him when she adds, “And you too, Aureus. My name is Hourglass.”

They stand there, the glowing boy and the girl made of glass, with a star and the fireflies between them.

“This feels like the beginning of a fairy tale,” she says, entirely innocent, still unable to fully grasp the idea of romance. She just knows fairy tales have handsome boys and beautiful girls, magic and stardust and forests full of fireflies and fairies. “Are you a prince?” She teases as she brushes past him, running her glass nose against his shoulder to follow a lone firefly further into the forest.

I don’t believe that anybody
feels the way I do about you now

H  O  U  R  G  L  A S S