That night, the moon smiled brightly, its stark brilliance outshone the very stars themselves. Its gentle and soft glow cascaded on the world beneath, spreading its eternal beauty.
However, he wondered if he was the sole witness of the moon's waning smile when she stepped out draped in a white dress, looking ethereal. That night she did what a million stars couldn't, she had outshone the moon.

She looked like a fallen angel, maybe she was one he thought, as his eyes met her bright ones, which held a million constellations in them.

His breath hitched when she stood next to him, overlooking the star-kissed ocean. Her lips tugged into a smile, unknowingly. He could hear his heart thumping against his chest, and his eyes rested on her as a smile made its way to his face, how did he find her in the darkness of the world? he pondered over his thoughts.

The calming sound of the ocean waves crashing filled the air, it brought a sense of serenity and calmness to the pair. Tonight, he had to confess his feelings to her, he had to confess he fell for her, he fell too deep, to get back up which he certainly didn't want to.

He saw her turn her head to look at him, maybe she felt his stare on her or she could hear his heart beating for her. "The view, it looks enchanting." He heard her say, he agreed with her, without sparing a glance at the moon, as he was looking at his.  "The moon might take up the spotlight, but without the millions of stars shining behind it, this spectacular view would be impossible," she stated now looking into his admiring eyes, she always thought too deeply. He fell for a philosopher. She turned her gaze towards the enchanting sky and the shimmering ocean.

When a brighter but gentle light fell on her from behind, she looked back to get starstruck by the view. He had lit up the beach with fairy lights, his eyes contently watching her smile growing bigger as she gasped at the sight, her eyes gleaming with happiness and fondness. 

His heart remembered the time he had helped her set up her room with fairy lights, she loved them. "They make me feel at home and cosy," he remembered her telling him. 

"Why do they have to make it so long?" she asked as she struggled untangling now, what was a knot of fairy lights. 
"They probably didn't know an idiot like you would pull it all out in one go," he snickered from behind, helping her untangle the rest part of the fairy light. 
"On my defence, I just wanted to look how long it was," she said, as her hands worked on the final knot.
"And look where it landed us, I certainly didn't sign up for this," he scowled at the wires on his hands.  
"Stop complaining and help me do it faster, will you?"  she said, irritated by his nagging. 

He let out a cheer of joy when they were done detangling the fairy lights. 
"Where do you want it?" he asked eyeing the room, to find the best place to hang those starry lights.
"There" he saw her pointing at her 'cosy' corner. 
That evening, they spent decorating her room.

He was pulled out of his thoughts when he felt a hand around him, "This looks beautiful" she whispered into the hug. His heart jumped in excitement, and his hands held onto her, protectively. 

If the fairy lights made her feel at home, her embrace made him feel at home. She was his home.

Today was their friendship anniversary, he smiled at the thought of how their innocent hearts decided to celebrate the anniversary of their friendship too. "Do you remember how we ended up having this friendship anniversary?" he asked still holding her in his warm embrace. She broke out of the hug to look at him, a smile playing on her lips and she reminisced about that moment. 

"Today's Mom and Dad's anniversary," he told her, handing her a piece of cake.
"Really? When is our anniversary?" she asked her curious eyes, speaking depths about her childly innocence.
"We don't have an anniversary, idiot," he said, chucking at her stupidity.
"Then let's make one?" came her reply, her eyes shining brightly at the idea.
"It doesn't work that way dummy, they celebrate the years of their marriage on their anniversary," he shook his head, at her idea.
"Then let's make one anniversary to celebrate our friendship?" she looked at the boy, with a pleading gaze. She wanted to celebrate her anniversary, how dare their parents have an anniversary and they don't?
He sighed at her persistence, "Okay, then. When do you want our anniversary to be on?" he gave in to her stubborn self, realising she wouldn't back away without having an anniversary. Surprisingly enough, she remembered their anniversary every year till today and it became their special day. 

She chuckled, reminiscing about her stubbornness in the past, insisting on celebrating an anniversary. "We were so naive back then," she said. "But on the bright side, we now have a special day to celebrate this bond- our anniversary," she continued, feeling grateful that her younger self was so persistent.

"As much as I hoped for you to forget about it during the first days, I am grateful you didn't" he admitted, leading her towards the picnic mat by her hand, which went unnoticed by the lady in her excitement. She gasped in excitement and surprise as she looked at him with a big smile forming on her face.

"I know you've always wanted to spend a night on the beach, stargazing," he said, surprising her. "I thought it would be the perfect time to arrange this while you're away on your business trip, as you'll need some rest after all the hard work. Besides, it's our anniversary today, so what better way to celebrate?" He motioned for her to get comfortable and enjoy the beautiful night ahead. Her heart warmed up at his thoughtfulness. She couldn't be even more glad to keep her promise. 

A week before their anniversary:
"I have to go on a business trip, overseas" she spoke over the phone. "What? why so sudden?" the voice from the other side spoke, confused about the sudden change in plans. "The one who's supposed to go fell sick" she ranted, feeling annoyed by the lack of preparedness. "I'll be there" she heard him say before hanging up, true to his words, she heard him punching in the door passcode. "Do you need any help in packing?" he asked as soon as he entered the room. "No, I am done" she replied closing her luggage bag. 

He took the bag from her and walked towards his car, "I'll drop you in your office" he said keeping her bags inside his car. She just smiled nodding at him. "When will you be back?" he asked, hoping it was not more than a week, he didn't want them to spend their anniversary separately. "It's a five-day trip, I promise, I'll be here before our anniversary, I won't stay any longer than necessary," she answered him as if she read his thoughts. 

"Thank you, for everything," she said, her eyes meeting his. As she gazed up at the night sky, breaking their eye contact. The sparkling blanket of stars stretched out endlessly before them, beckoning their sense of wonder and adventure. 

"Did you know when we are looking at the night sky we are seeing the past?" she whispered as if the shimmering blanket covering the endless dark sky could listen to her. The man, next to her furrowed his eyes in confusion, "What do you mean?" he asked his attention on her, "I mean, what you are seeing right now, it has already passed, the stars which we see right now, many of them died already. And many new took birth, which we can't see because we are still dwelling in the beauty of the past," she spoke, her words held unknown, great depth. 

He felt unknown fear and pain creeping up her heart. "We never see the present, because we are always busy looking at the past." she continued. "We lead a life because of hope, and yet, the same hope shatters us. We are too busy being optimistic that we forget to be realistic." An unknown emotion swung in her eyes. "Why are we talking about this now?" he asked confused by the sudden change of atmosphere. 

"Because dear, you are not living in the moment now. You need to wake up from this, you have to wake up from this illusion, this dream," she said, tears threatening to fall from her eyes. "What do you mean sweetheart? I am living in reality, you are my reality," he said, not liking the fear that crept up, a lump forming in his throat. "I love you, darling," he whispered before he could lose her sight, pain striking his heart. She froze at his sudden confession, before smiling painfully. "I love you too, but you need to let me go," she said truthfully, her every word foreign to him. "Why?" he sounded broken, so broken to even carry himself. "I might be your home during winter, but if you won't let me go, and wander outside you won't know when the spring has arrived," she whispered wiping his tears and disappearing into oblivion.

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He stirred awake to the beeping of hospital machines and the smell of disinfectants. He looked beside him to see his mother sitting on the hospital chair, looking lost. her eyes held emptiness and pain "Why am I here? Where is she?" he asked once he found his voice making his mother flinch out of her chain of thoughts. Once she saw him awake, she lunged forward to wrap him in her warm and secure embrace, holding him with the utmost care, as though he were a fragile glass figurine whispering soothing words into his ears, he immediately relaxed in her motherly embrace. 

"I am sorry,"  she said with a heavy heart. "I am sorry son, but we lost her,"  he crumbled into her arms, and she held him tightly, trying to hold back her own tears. "It's okay to cry and let it all out. Holding back your sadness and pain will only hurt you worse," she said with concern laced in her voice, she wasn't ready to lose her child to sadness. "It's not true Mom, she isn't gone. She promised me she'd be back. She said she'll be back for our anniversary Mom," he replied, his voice pained. "I still have to tell her I love her, Mom," he whispered breaking down, fate was cruel to him. 

Two days ago, the flight she was on crashed. Along with her flight, he collapsed. Today was their anniversary, but he was alone. For the first time in twenty years, he was alone on their anniversary. Unknown to him she fulfilled her promise by coming to tell him her last goodbye, in his dream.