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The dusk clouds engulfed the soothing onyx sky. Moonlight poured onto its surroundings, showering its luminous radiance on everything which came in contact with it. Though the sky was quite allure, no stars could have been noticed in the overwhelmingly jet atmosphere. Droplets of rain started to drown the environment as more water advanced.
Micah looked out of the window, and into the dark, now suffocating scenery. He looked rather disenchanted. Everyone else in the room was talking about the future. What they want to accomplish, what they want to see. Micah’s stomach bent up into a knot.
It’s like they all forgot about her. The entire reason we’re doing… all of this. Mom.
It always made him perplexed. How can they just… look ahead on what’s going to happen next? And be ready for it. As if nothing ever happened in the past? He furrowed his eyebrows, but his eyes were still focused outside. His shoulders tensed as he thought more, which made him lose eye contact with the window, redirecting his stare on his trembling hands. Thinking.
He always used to watch the stars, under the many shades of blues and purples, with his mom. He always used to compete with her on who can name the constellations first. He always used to love the feeling of lying in the grass, conversing with her. And then getting scolded for the grass stains which always made his white shirts green. Maybe that’s why he loved the colour green. It always reminded him of her. But when could he ever experience such stars again? The city lights engulf their canopy of silver embers, which should be embedded in the sky clearly. But is instead actively submerging them every night.
Abruptly, Micah felt a warm hand on his shoulder. He swiftly turned his head, broken from the sudden trance of thought which was consuming him.
It was Michelle, looking rather quite concerned. After Micah acknowledged her, she went to sit by his side. ‘You feeling good? I noticed you weren’t talking much.’ She stated, playing with a strand of her coffee-coloured hair. She looked into his fatigued eyes, waiting patiently for him to answer.
Micah felt startled. When has anyone ever asked him that? He fidgeted with his green sleeve, ‘I feel alright. I’m just not in the mood to talk right now.’ He looked away from a puzzled Michelle.
Michelle just observed him for a couple of seconds in disbelief. ‘Micah, just a second ago I found you with your hands shaking. If you don’t want to talk then that’s okay. But is there anything on your mind?’ She sighed, her face scrunching in unease.
She noticed that?
Micah let out a deep breath before saying: ‘Well, Michelle… It’s just the stars. You can’t see them. The city light always hides them. And it’s not fair because some people would want to look at them, you know? And admire them. They’re really pretty.’ Micah flicked his eyes back to Michelle’s, which looked absolutely dumbfounded.
So this is about not being able to see stars… you know what, I can’t judge. He’s quite sensitive.
Michelle had warmth bloom on her face, the corners of her lips rising as she hears Micah taking more steady breaths. ‘I agree with you. The stars are really pretty. I’m sure you’ll find a place where you can admire them, Micah.’
After that, the room got nosier. And Micah and Michelle kept talking.
Not about the future.
Not delving into the past.
But, instead on the present.
————
Time skip: a couple months forward. Micah’s birthday
Micah celebrated his awaited birthday a day before the actual day. Almost all of his siblings were scheduled on an important mission on the actual date, which they couldn’t have missed for anything.
He didn’t mind though. He still got to spend time with them, under the same circumstances of a birthday. The were all free, with no work for once. With no worries surrounding them. He got to enjoy himself. And he really appreciated what everyone got him as a gift. His heart always melted because so much thought and time went into each item.
He enjoyed everyone’s presents fully.
But, Michelle said she would give him her present on the day of his actual birthday.
So, the day eventually arrived. Michelle told Micah to drive to a… field? A quite scarcely populated one too. It was very rural when he first set his eyes on it. There weren’t any streetlights, or any modern house in sight. It felt awfully nostalgic for some reason. He stood there, perceiving his surroundings as he waited for Michelle to come to the destination.
————
The suns gleams intensified less as it started to descend in the sky. Michelle arrived a couple of hours ago and they simply hung out together like normal. She told him that she would give her gift at night. Which was rapidly approaching.
They were sat on the grass together, raw laughter escaping from both of them by their intriguing conversations. Neither of them ever saw such genuine smiles and laughter ever pry out of them this much before.
Before both of them knew it, night finally arrived.
Michelle turned her head towards him, her infectious smile making the corners of her eyes crinkle. Her smile was wide. The warmth radiating.
What’s making her smile like that? She looks… euphoric.
‘It’s now time for your birthday gift, Micah.’ She beamed. Hastily, she grabbed his arm and pulled him down with her on the glistening grass. She was lying down on the emerald blades, with him next to her. The wind travelled across and comforted them with its soothing song. Michelle looked at peace, Micah was still confused. The wind flew through her hair.
She looks so whimsical.
But wait, what was the gift?
‘Michelle, I’m kind of lost on what it’s supposed to be,’ He simply laughed to himself.
‘Look up.’
Micah did as she said. He looked up. It was a blanket of spectral reminders of her lost smile. It was under the most prettiest blues and purples that she always admired. It was constellations woven from her dreams. It was the echoes of a lost warmth. She was lost. Somewhere out there. In the stars. She was the Angel of The Stars, after all… But his warmth was reignited. Michelle’s light breathing set him back to reality. Back to where he was.
Michelle reignited that. The way the moonlight pooled onto her face. The way her curly, rich hair was being blown by the wind. The way she’s here with him now.
‘Michelle. How did you know. I mean-. That I needed this.’ He looked into her relaxed eyes, searching for an answer.
She chuckled. ‘You told me you wanted this, remember? A couple months ago or something.’ She broke eye contact with the bedazzled and most resplendent sky to shift onto her side. Completing their shared gaze as the grass whispered beneath them.
‘You… remember that?’ He spoke quietly.
‘Of course I would. It sounded like it meant a lot to you.’ She smiled to herself, her hair getting on her face.
Micah’s heart started to pump blood faster. His cheeks started to brighten. For so long, he’s been chasing the stars. Searching for something which could give him comfort again. Something extraordinary. But after this gift, he realised he was looking at the wrong direction.
Her focus was set back onto the starry night. His focus should be set onto it too. He desperately desired for it, did he not? But now, he’s noticing the way her eyes shimmered under the ethereal sky. The way she had a small smile still flourished. The way she breathed ever so quietly so he can cherish this moment as much as possible.
The way she remembered.
Micah turned his head towards her fully. And for a moment, he forgot about the sky lingering above them. The stars had always been the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen and experienced. But somehow, just somehow, she became the one thing he couldn’t ever look away from.