That evening, Ashton went to bed early, lying on his side on top of the sheets, still fully dressed.

His room was large, very large, mostly empty space, same as the rest of the house. At the edges of the room where many cabinets and mirrors, and either side of his large bed, were great square windows, reaching almost from ceiling to floor.

In the daytime they would show such a beautiful view of the garden, filling the room with natural light. But now, all that could be seen were the pretty lights, from the hushed city around them, and the stars that twinkled overhead.

Ashton heard one of the double doors to the bedroom open, and he opened his eyes, looking tiredly across the room without raising his head.

The light in the room was dimmed, but he could see his sister standing there on the threshold, her eyes large and beautiful.

She smiled, stepping into the room, closing the door gently behind her.

She lay on the bed beside him, facing him with a smile upon her face, her eyes shining brightly.

‘Hey sis’ Ashton mumbled.

She let out a sigh then, reaching towards him and taking his hand in her own.

‘What are you thinking?’ she asked him softly, never taking his eyes off him as she continued to hold his hand.

‘I don’t know’ Ashton sighed unhappily.

‘Tell me’ Alicia prompted.

‘I just’ Ashton began reluctantly, ‘I just wonder how much my life will change after this, and if I will ever be happy.’

‘I wish there was something I could do’ Alicia mumbled.

‘Its fine’ Ashton said a little more encouragingly now. ‘I just um….. I think I will be ok. I have mum and dad still…and even if they don’t always listen or take me seriously, I have you. I know you always listen to me. And not just that, but you understand.’

‘Well’ Alicia said with a smile, ‘I try to at least. I know they both can be so frustrating at times.’

They fell into silence for a moment, simply lying on the bed facing each other, Alicia still holding Ashton’s hand.

They then heard a faint noise, the sound of roaring laughter and hysterical giggling.

It was their parents on the roof, doing who knows what.

‘It does make me happy to see them so happy’ Ashton smiled then.

‘Yeah’ Alicia grinned back.

‘I wish I could be as happy as them in marriage, as happy as you’ he said to her.

‘My husband has always been good to me’ Alicia said, her love shown clearly in her eyes.

‘I hope Edmund is a good man…’ Ashton spoke, trailing off.