Nana, our nursery maid, has just finished telling me the most thrilling story. My favorite story. One I only got her to tell me, for the hundredth time because it is my birthday. I turned thirteen today. Nana, like others in my house, believes it’s time I start to grow up. Put away ideas of lands full of make-believe.

But something tells me I’ll never forget about the story Nana’s told me over the years. The one about a boy who ruled a world full of magic. A boy I can’t help but want to know more about, and hope I never forget his world full of wonder. One filled with secrets, where anything goes, as long as he says so.

The older woman stops rocking in her chair by the window and contemplates my question with a frown. I heard her talking with mother and father before they left for their party. I know that tonight is supposed to be my last night in the nursery. That I am supposed to forget about these types of things and focus on my studies. Still, I am hopeful she humors me, if just for tonight.

“Your parents wouldn’t want me talking to you about such things, child.”

With a frown of my own, I snuggle down deeper into my covers and look out the window behind her head. My gaze immediately falls to the brightest star in the sky, the second one to the right of the moon, and I suddenly feel myself start to smile.

“I think it’s like magic,” I whisper.

Nana stops rocking but doesn’t tell me I’m wrong. My gaze stays focused on the bright light and a warmness floods my insides. It’s a kind of enchantment I’ve never felt before.

“Some people would call you delusional,” her voice holds a bit of sadness. “They would tell you that love’s nothing but an illusion.”

I frown again, my heart knowing already that she’s wrong when I’ve never, ever been in love. I’m still so young, but something inside screams at me to tell her she’s wrong.

“That’s the best kind of love…” I hear myself confess in a small voice, as if I know what I’m talking about. I know she hears because a smile pulls at her lips as she gazes out into the dark night sky. Her eyes follow mine to the brightest star above. “The kind that can take you away from reality. Create new worlds to live in. Give you an escape when you desperately need it.”

Both of our eyes fall from the night sky and meet in the darkness. My eyes water with tears I try daily to never let fall. Especially in front of Nana. Someone who has always been more of a mother to me than the one who gave me life.