Page 3 of Stars At Dusk

She flagged down the first available fly-cab.

‘The spaceport, please,’ she instructed the driver.

It took off, whisking her away from a life of misery. The only one she’d ever known. She refused to shed a tear, for nothing about her previous life was worth it.

She’d left everything behind. Except for two precious things. Her grandmama’s necklace and ring. Crafted from two purple sapphires passed down through generations to her grandmother and bequeathed to her, skipping one generation.

She remembered the older lady’s words when she’d slipped them into her hand at the hospital. ‘These are yours. They’re better in your possession than with my selfish daughter. I had them engraved with the name I want you to take, which was my mother’s name. And don’t let your mama find them. She’ll rip them from you.’

A few days later, the stately octogenarian had slipped from this world and into the next, somewhere amongst the stars.

The jewellery was all she had of her dear grandmama now, a unique and treasured legacy she’d guard with her life, in memory of the one person who’d believed in her and encouraged her to follow her dreams.

She played with the pendant sapphire hanging around her neck, kicked her head back on the seat and smiled.

She knew what she wanted to do. She knew where she wanted to go.

And it was as far away from Rambasa as she could manage.

At 16, Harlow Meridien said yes.

Yes. Yes. Yes.

Yes, to herself.

Yes, to a new life and yes, to new possibilities.

Yes!

I

From dusk and twilight, comes the stars

1

A lilac, dusky twilight

Harlow, present day

A triple chocolate, yuzu sorbet ice cake. Laced with coconut crumbles and nazua nectar. Served with a side of Calasian vanilla ice cream.

That’s all she’d wanted out of this night.

All she’d got so far was this nightmare of a douche waxing lyrical about his douchey world.

She wasn’t there for his doucherie.

She hadn’t been all about it two days ago when he asked her on their fourth date. Just as she’d contemplated breaking it off with him.

During the call, he’d confirmed that he’d secured a table at the most coveted restaurant in the city.

With its famed triple chocolate, yuzu sorbet and coconut ice cake.

So she’d reluctantly agreed, knowing the menu would be sensational.

The company, not so much.

But it would not be savvy of an avid food connoisseur like herself to turn down a table at House M’Osia Axuma. And also, because she was hoping Ziemer would redeem himself, she gave him one more shot.

---