Inlay

Floating amongst the stars, I craft a replica of you. I lengthen galaxies into arms. Shape stardust into lips. Desperately clutch glittering indigo curves like the earthbound you I held long ago. We waltz through constellations, trailing emerald ribbons around Orion and Polaris, my Virgo and your Aquarius—outshined by this aurora I make in missing you. I kiss your replica; they vaporise like clouds through my fingers. I ready myself to fade too, stealing a moment to admire our Earth below. And there you are—my Aquarius! In our backyard, smiling up at me, waltzing together from the start. --- Chloe Paige writes from the salty shores of Wadawurrung Country in Geelong, Australia. She has won the Elegant Literature Award, NYC Midnight, and The Booby Prize, alongside shortlisting multiple times for the Not Quite Write Prize for Flash Fiction. Chloe adores strong verbs, flouting the writing rules, and rambling about literary devices to people who truly couldn't care less.