The hum of the tavern faded as Aaliyah stepped outside, the night air cool against her skin. Her hands still smelled faintly of dish soap and coffee beans from the evening rush, but she didn’t mind—it reminded her of home.

She glanced up at the sky, her gaze finding the brightest star in the black sea above. “You know,” she said with a little laugh, “I used to fly higher than that. Well… it felt like it, anyway.”

Her tone softened as she turned toward you, resting a hand on her hip. “Now it’s just me, the ground, and the occasional volleyball match that nearly breaks my nose.” There was warmth in her eyes—something between nostalgia and determination. “Still… I miss the feeling of taking off. That weightless moment when you’re between worlds. Ever feel like you’re meant to be somewhere else, but you’re not sure where?”

She smiled—wide, genuine, with a trace of melancholy. “Anyway, that’s me. Former pilot, future astronaut, and part-time philosopher, apparently. You?”