She walks into the night. Fireflies fly above. They sprinkle the air with supple light as a blanket of stars covers the indigo depths of a cool night. A path has been illuminated for her and he stands at the end of it. A picnic blanket lays on the grass. She takes it and joins him on the blanket. “I did. What’s all this?”
“I thought we could look at the stars and enjoy the night.”
“I like it.” She lays down. He quickly lays next to her.
They look on at the night sky in silence. A whisper reaches her ear. “Dum da di di di dum da di di di di di da…”
“What’s that?” She asks.
“Hmm? What’s what?”
“The melody.”
“Oh, it’s something I’ve been working on.”
“Oh,” she says intrigued “How does it go?”
“That’s as far as I’ve gotten.”
“I like it.” She looks at the stars. “It’s the perfect soundtrack for a night like this.” She sighs and reaches out to hold his hand. “The stars are so vibrant. It’s almost like they are dancing.”
“Do you see that one there?” He points straight above their heads.
“The bright yellowish one?” She asks.
“Yes. Do you know what it is?” He asks.
“I have absolutely no clue.” She turns to face him, “Do you?”
He smiles a cheeky smile, “Not one. I was hoping you did.”
They laugh. That is all they need to do when they are together, smile and laugh and it’s enough to light up an entire life in-between meetings.
“I do know what that one is though.” He points towards a bright moving point in the horizon.
“A shooting star!” She sits up excited. “Quick make a wish!”
She closes her eyes before he can say a word and wishes with all her heart for this to last forever. He just looks on at her and smiles. When she opens her eyes she finds he is doing the same. What he is wishing for she doesn’t know, yet the way the lines on his face concentrate on his closed-eyed expression tell of a deep wish being made.
He feels her gaze and slowly opens his eyes.
“I didn’t mean to interrupt.” She says.“It’s alright.” He smiles.
“Did you make a wish?” She asks
“I did, though darling, I am pretty sure that was a plane.” He says gently.
“A plane?” She asks surprised. “What would a plane be doing here?”
“Well they fly people across—”
“Very funny, that’s not what I meant. I am pretty sure that was a star.” She looks up to the place where she saw the star just seconds before. “See, it’s gone. A plane takes longer to cross the night sky.”
“Yes, though a shooting star moves faster than our little shining friend.”
“What would an airplane be doing here?” She asks again.
“I have no idea. What would a shooting star?”
“It’s more magical. Besides, I would never have an airplane in a dream.” She clarifies.
“So this is a dream then?” He asks.
“Isn’t it?” She answers hopeful.
“It is definitely my dream.” He says certain.
“You are mistaken. It is mine. It has to be.” Her words and her tone start to reveal the little clouds of doubt that accompany her mornings.
“Yet you would never have an airplane in a dream.” He answers assuredly.
“Not crossing the night sky in a moment like this no. That’s why it had to be a shooting star.” She explains matter-of-factly.
“Why?” He turns to look at her, curious to find out what she will say next.
“Well that must prove it then, this isn’t your dream.” He answers confidently.
She laughs, “I wish I could tell this wasn’t my dream.”
“I am sure of it.” He answers.
“Really?” She asks hopeful.
“Yes, it’s mine.” The smile on his face is unmovable.
“But I know I am real, and when I wake up I remember all of this, always.” She says certain.
“I do too.” He answers echoing the same certainty.
“Let’s try this. If this is my dream then we will now be floating on a cloud.” She says assuredly. Nothing happens. He tries not to laugh. “Ok, you give it a try.”
“Ok, if this is my dream then stars will fall down from the sky as edible — mini of course — gummies.” He puts out his hands.
“Were you a Wonka fan as a kid?” She asks.
“The candy forest was my favorite scene.” They wait for a second more. Nothing happens. “Now what?” He asks. She sighs. “Perhaps this is the future. A premonition of what’s to come.” She suggests.
“Based on the past? A distant memory?” He offers.
“I think if you were in my past I would definitely remember you.” She says.
“We must have crossed each other at some point. If this is real—”
She looks quizzically at him so he continues, “—indulge me for a moment, if this is real, how is it we found each other ?”
“Well, how is it anyone finds each other? Is it really so very different from finding someone among the billions of people on earth?” She says, knowing she is partly explaining it to herself as she speaks.
“Fair point.” He readily answers, silently hoping this logic is enough to make things real.
“Maybe we are both too distracted to find each other in real life and our subconsciouses had to intervene. Maybe we cross each other all the time and we don’t even know it!” She suggests.
She thinks for a moment. “We should leave each other breadcrumbs then.”
“Alright, what kind?”
“Any kind. Although…” She sits up and looks at him steadily, her mind made up.
“What is it?”
“May I try something — that is, I’d like to try something…” She looks a little worried.
“What would you like to try?”
She leans in… “May I kiss you?”
“Please.”
She moves forward, he stays unmovable — hoping not to scare her away. Lips connect and senses relax to the soft feathery touch of warmth as bliss takes over. There is no movement, no further action, just the gentle synergy between two hearts expressed in reverence by lips. She moves back and they look at each other in silence.
“Well, if that’s not real, I don’t know what is.” He says.
She looks at him in awe as her hand reaches for her own lips; partly to verify they are still there, partly to touch by extension the magic of the moment passed.
She lets her thoughts out in a whisper, “How can this be?”
“I don’t know.” He leans closer and touches her cheek. “I just know I don’t want this to end. Is that alright?”
She looks at him — his eyes are full of hope and tenderness — and her heart lightens. She nods and reaches for his hand, placing hers over his, keeping his on her cheek for as long as possible.
