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   Leah took another swig from her bottle of cheap wine and slumped onto her back in the overgrown grass. Above her, the sky was littered with countless pinpricks of blazing light. With no clouds around to provide cover, the view was truely spectacular.

   "Y'know, Eddie, it's a funny thing. We used to sit out here all the time together, just you and me and the sky.
   "I remember one night I promised you the stars right here on this spot. I don't think I could forget that even if I ever wanted to.  Think back a couple years ago. Sheila's graduation party, June 18th. We'd snuck out for our own private party after most of the couples had gone. You had a few bottles of your dad's bourbon in the backseat of your truck and we drove to the bottom of this very hill and staggered the rest of the way up, drunk, and laughing."

  She paused for a moment and considered the remaining dregs of her alcohol, swirling it around inside the bottle. No reply was made to her speech except the rustle of wind gently disturbing the grass. The air itself seemed to be listening. Ready to hear what she would say next.

   "You won't remember how I promised, or what it was I said to you. You were asleep at the time. Always the lightweight." She smiled fondly. "You looked so peaceful, so secure. Your face had lost all its tension and it was like I was looking at the real you - the person you always were but were too afraid to let anyone see.
   "I'd seen something meant for no one else."

   Draining the last of her drink, she turned on her side to face the tall dark shape next to her. The fingertips of one hand traced patterns on the ground as she spoke.

   "When I was small, my father used to tell me the night skies were paved with diamonds. That's the funny thing. We were lying beneath limitless wealth and you were completely oblivious to it. Those stars were yours to take and mine to give. You deserved everything I could give you and more."

   The hand moved to caress the base of the tombstone and gently brush the still-fresh inscription carved upon it.

   "And you got it. You took every star in my sky with you when you left. It's dark now, Eddie, and I'm scared. I never told you, but I've always been afraid of the dark. I suppose I didn't want you to think I was chicken.
   "And look where that left me. All empty and nothing left. This hemisphere will never be bright to me again."

   And with those final words her hand dropped to the floor and Leah fell into a fitful druken sleep.