The sky city of Auroria Prime glowed softly, its bioluminescent lanterns casting a blue-green shimmer over our sky house.
I sat on the plush couch, my tailored black suit long ago swapped for a cosy robe.
My daughter, Elyse, sprawled across from me, her dark hair, the same as mine, falling over her curious eyes. At eighteen, she was all questions, and tonight, she wanted the story of how I met her mother, Liora.
"Mom, c'mon," Elyse said, kicking her feet up. "You always dodge this. How'd you and Mama Liora get together? Spill it."
I chuckled, sipping my tea.
"Alright, alright. It was 2147, back when I was your age, running wild in these floating cities."
"I was Valeria Voss, heir to the wealthiest family on Elysara, and life was… excessive. Parties, auctions, you name it. Your mama, Liora, was my best friend, petite, adorable, and trouble."
Elyse grinned. "Trouble? Mama?"
"Oh, yeah," I said, leaning back.
"She'd bat those eyes, and I'd do anything, buy her dresses, carry her around like a princess. We grew up together, always flirting, always close."
"Then one night, at a big party my parents threw, it happened. We'd been dancing, laughing, maybe drinking too much. The lanterns were glowing, music was thumping, and… we kissed. First time. Everything changed."
Elyse's eyes widened. "Whoa. Was it, like, love right then?"
I smiled, remembering. "Not quite. It was passion, sure. We snuck off to my room, and, well, let's say we weren't subtle."
"After that, we were everywhere – cars, my office, even school. I took her to auctions and played silly games with this fancy… device to make her bid higher. She loved the attention, and I loved giving it."
"Gross, Mom!" Elyse laughed, tossing a pillow. "But you guys were happy?"
"For a while," I said, my voice softening.
"Liora was my world, but things got complicated. This planet, Elyse—it's all about wealth and status. I wanted more, something real. Your mama and I had to fight to find that."
She leaned forward. "Fight how?"
I winked. "That's a longer story, kid. But it started with that kiss, under a sky full of riches."