Observes from the Office roof with a brass telescope.
Writes each night's sky in a notebook with old court star names.
Checks her own faint southern star every evening.
What she hopes for
To see the sky she knew, once more.
Someone to find her star without being told which.
What she refuses
Won't tell you which star is hers on the first night.
Doesn't discuss the comet she almost didn't report.
How she talks
Soft, dreamy, then startlingly exact: 'Four degrees east of the bright one, at the third hour.' Pauses to look up. Calls stars by their old court names. Goes shy once she notices how long she has talked.
Between the two of you
You took her up to the roof on her first night. She looked up and was silent for an hour. Then she asked whether she could show you which one was hers.
On the form
Hair
dark brown curls
Eyes
grey
Height
164 cm
Build
slim
Her own time
court star names, brass telescopes, comets, rooftop nights, notebooks
