Cairo slows the car down to a soft halt. The night by this time was cold, the tides high, and winds violent. However, if he was to bring anyone special, this was the place to bring her.

“So, what’s the story behind this location?” Layla asks slightly bewildered.

Cairo smiles and grabs a blanket from the trunk. Wrapping it around Layla, he teasingly replies, “you’ll see in a bit”.

Cairo leans into the driver seat and turns on the radio. Soft rhythms and blues resonate from the speakers as he beckons Layla to next to him on the car hood.

Together they rest on the warm engine as Layla wraps herself tightly to shield from the piercing winds.

“What am I looking for exactly?” She asks.

“Look up,” Cairo points to the sky, “it’ll appear soon.”

Layla sharply inhales as another gust whips against the car blowing her hairpin off.

Cairo removes his jacket and rests it over her shoulder, flipping the hood to shield her head from the cold.

“Aren’t you cold?” Layla asks concerned.

Cairo shakes his head.

“It’ll be warm soon.”

Cairo looks up at the sky as Layla stares at him in confusion.

“There,” he excitedly points.

Cairo grins as Layla gasps in astonishment.

Suddenly, as if on cue, the winds that violently tore at the two disappear. The crashing waves that echoed across the horizon almost immediately retreat back to a gentle surf, while the clouds that blanketed the skies open to reveal a ceiling of glittering stars.

“Like diamonds in the sky right?” Cairo comments.

“It’s beautiful,” Layla, agrees, “how did you-”

“Know about this place?”

A warm breeze trickles down the skyline as if it was a tender embrace.

“I’ve always had a memory of this place ever since I was little,” Cairo continues, “I think my parents used to always come here either before I was born or when I was still a toddler. I guess it’s instinct.”

Cairo points toward the cliffs flanking the small bay.

“You see those cliffs there?”

“Yeah.”

“Once a year currents from down south comes up and bring tropical weather with it. Something complicated about cold and warm air mixing. Either way, this is the only place where we can see such a miracle happen.”

Cairo then turns and looks at Layla, who was still staring at the night sky.

“Layla,” he begins.

Layla turns and notices that Cairo was leaning towards her.

“Cairo,” Layla starts.

“I know,” he cuts her off, “You’re only back for these few months, there is a good man waiting for you when you go back to college, and there is no way we would be able to work it out.”

Layla looks at him with a pained expression on her face.

“But,” Cairo continues.

“No buts,” Layla gently whispers as she presses her finger up to his lips. “We live in two different worlds, and while we did once share something in common…”

Layla pauses for a moment, as she gathers the flurry of thoughts in her mind.

“You are still my closest friend.” She finally finishes.

Cairo reaches into his pocket to pull out his wallet. He takes out a small photo and hands it to Layla.

As she was looking at it, Cairo reaches over and gently cups her hands.

“That photo got me through some hard times.”

“Cairo…”

“I get it,” Cairo says as he leans back on the hood of his car. “Some things just aren’t meant to be.”

Layla looks intently at the picture. Cairo could make out the signs of nostalgia running across Layla’s untainted face as the vibrant moonlight highlights her facial features.

“I’m proud of you,” Cairo continues, “You made it out of the slums. Out of all of us, you made it out and made something of yourself.”

Layla looks to her side with embarrassment.

“You say sweet things,” she starts, “but they’re just exaggerations. I haven’t done anything worth recognition. I don’t even know if I’m capable of doing what I set out for.”

“Smart girl like you? You don’t’ need to worry about that. You have a passion. A remarkable drive of doing what you set your mind to despite opposition. Whenever I see you write, with them adorable glasses of yours-”

Layla smiles.

“Your eyes shine brighter than any of these stars,” Cairo continues as he stares up into the sky. “Awards and prizes are only there to measure what other people think of you, not the value of your work."  

"Of course, when you do become famous make sure you don’t forget about me, and remember you can always come back if you need an escape. You’re my best friend. I’ll always love you no matter what.”

Cairo cheerfully smiles.

“Now it’s not like I’m going to be asking for favors. We can just kick it-”

“Cairo,” Layla suddenly interrupts, “Yes.”

“Yes?” Cairo asks absent mindedly.

“Yes”

“Yes?”

“Yes,” Layla says grinning.

A sense of relief sweeps over Cairo when he finally realizes what Layla was telling him, followed by a surge of butterflies as he has another moment of epiphany.

“I’ll have you know I’m normally not this easy,” Layla teases.

“It’s a good thing a got lucky than,” Cairo playfully pokes back, “this was my last play.”

With that, he leans in and together they share their first kiss just as the stars fall in the horizon.