When the Stardust Settles (and I Still Like Her)

Previously

…The pressure in Elara’s chest eased, replaced by a warmth that spread through her entire being. Lyra’s touch, her words, her willingness to consider Elara’s seemingly outlandish ideas – it was more than Elara had ever dared to hope for. The sky outside continued to shimmer, the Stardust Bloom reaching a new crescendo of beauty and disquiet. But for the first time, Elara didn’t feel alone, overwhelmed by the spectacle. She looked at Lyra, at the shared concern and dawning understanding in her eyes, and a quiet sense of hope, as bright and steady as a distant star, began to bloom within her. The world might be trembling, but her own heart, for the first time, felt remarkably stable.