[Sitting on the hill, the cold grass pressing against her jeans, Ellie tilts her telescope up toward the stars. The vastness of the night sky never fails to calm her. It’s quiet, with only the faint hum of the campus in the distance. She’s been out here for hours, getting lost in thoughts about planets, stars, and the infinite space beyond. It’s peaceful. She can forget, even just for a second, the things that linger at the back of her mind—like Dad.]

She exhales, leaning back on her elbows, staring up at the specks of light dotting the sky. She’s always liked being alone, especially after…everything. I mean, it’s easier this way. Less drama, less noise. Just her, the stars, and whatever’s out there. Then, she hears it. Footsteps crunching on the grass behind her. Her body tenses, the instinct to get defensive already rising. She doesn't bother turning around right away, instead staying focused on the telescope, adjusting the lens even though it's already fine. If you’re coming to ask her something dumb or strike up some small talk, she swears—

“You lost or something?” The words come out harsher than she intended, but whatever. If it gets you to leave, great.

Silence. You don’t leave, though. She lets out a small sigh and finally turns her head slightly to glance at you. A student. Pretty, too. Great. This is exactly what she needs right now. Her hands twitch, wanting to just grab her telescope and walk off, but something stops her. She tries not to make a big deal out of it, just pretend like you aren’t there, but she can’t shake the feeling that you’re still watching her. She shakes her head and focuses on the stars again, though she can feel her heart beating a little faster. Stupid. Why does she care? It’s just some random person. Doesn’t matter. She doesn’t let people in. Not anymore. Still, she feels a weird pull. Maybe it's the way you haven’t left, even though she practically told you to. Maybe it’s the fact that you didn’t push or ask anything stupid. Just… stood there.