"It has been five years." I sighed. We were lying on a sheet on the rooftop of our apartment, staring at the night sky that was full of stars.

"Ssstt. Five years or more, it'd be nothing to me. We still have many years ahead to try."

Daud turned his body to face me, so did I. He smiled. His hand gently stroked my hair and then he pressed his red lips onto my forehead.

I looked up to find his beautiful brown eyes and I couldn't help myself but smile widely. He wrapped his left arm around my waist while his right arm was under my head, pillowing me. He pulled me closer, hugged me, and rested his chin on the top of my head. I closed my eyes and though I couldn't see his face, I could tell that he did the same thing. We shared the same feeling when we were hugging; the feeling of loving and being loved.

"What if I can't get pregnant and give you a child?" I opened my eyes as the thought crossed my mind. "Will you leave me for another woman?" My voice got strained.

Daud was silent for a few seconds, getting me frustrated waiting him to say something comforting me. I squeezed my eyes shut and bit my lower lip. Then I heard his chuckle and he pulled me away so that he could see my face.

"That was the dumbest, most ridiculous question someone has ever asked me." He stressed each of his words and rolled his eyes afterwards. A devilish smirk plastered on his face. He leaned forward and pressed his lips onto mine. I laughed way too loud before kissing him back.

"I love you. Happy anniversary," he whispered.

"I love you, too. Happy anniversary." I ran my fingers through his dark hair then trailed down his chest before burying my face in his warm neck.

***

"It's been six years."

"Let's drop it. I counted that you said those words like ten times already, and it's only for today."

"I was just thinking...and afraid."

"I'd never ever leave you for another woman if it's what you wanted me to say. I swear to God. Does it make you feel better?"

"Yeah, it does. Way better."

"....."

"....."

"If someday we have a child, we'll name him 'Star'."

"It sounds like a girl's name though."

"Nothing's gonna change though. Boy or girl, we'll name them 'Star'. No compromise, Darling!"

"Okay, fine. 'Star' sounds stellar."

"Like it has to."

"So tell me about it, what happened between you two, you and 'Star'?"

"It wasn't about me but you, like you are totally the meaning of 'star' to me and I'm the dark sky. The darkest one. You light up my world, shinning like a brightest diamond that your glow enables me to brighten universe and others' life. You see, I'm just the darkest, dormant sky without you."

"But star does only appear at night."

"It comes out both day and night actually. But the sun makes it dim so you can't see its light during the day."

"Adorkable!"

"Thanks for the compliment, Darl!"

"You're welcome."

"I love you. I savor every moment with you and more years to come. Happy anniversary."

"Butterflies in my tummy. Happy anniversary."

***

It was January 27th when snow fell in higher intensity than usual from the sky of London. Wrapping the shawl around my neck, I was ready to head to the library to work. It took me ten minutes by walking to get there. My friend Brenda welcomed me with cheerful expression she usually wore at the main door of the building.

"Daud's waiting for you. He's about to die of losing patience." She rolled her eyes. I patted her shoulder, said thanks, and burst into the building.

Daud was sitting and resting his back on a stiff-backed long metal chair in the lobby. His eyes were tightly closed and both his arms were folded together across the chest. It gave me a dazzling view of the exposure of his sharp jawline and all his face's side-profile too.

I stood right in front of him, intentionally blocking the light lighted upon him. I barely could restrain the urge to form a grin when he clicked his tongue and forced opening his eyes. He looked annoyed but as soon as finding me, he beamed and ran his fingers through his hairs to comb them. He looked legit tired but was happy at all.

"You came earlier?" I positioned myself beside him. "Lunchtime is still an hour away."

He widened his smile. "Star needs some books for her school work. Her teacher phoned me in office."

"Why didn't you tell me before? I could help you find some books for her so you don't need to neglect your work like this," I said in a state of disbelieved tone then sighed heavily. He just looked me in the eyes for a few seconds with an unreadable expression. Once I came into realization, I shrugged and pouted. "You're one of the company owners now. How could I forget about that?! God!"

He nodded and loosened his black tie. I turned to look away to the kids' reading corner near us.

"So, where is she?" I extended my neck, trying to look for Star. "Did you leave her alone, Daud? In that damn gigantic room?" I frowned and narrowed my eyes when I gazed back at him. My heart almost stopped beating when he nodded and slightly opened his mouth to utter word in which I guessed would go to 'Yes'.

"Are you crazy?" I exclaimed.

Daud took a deep breath and exhaled it harshly. "She's not really alone, okay? She's with Wilona."

"How could you leave her with your secretary?! She doesn't even know how to hold a kid's hand nicely."

Grabbing my bag, I got up and was about to go when Daud caught and grasped my right upper arm strongly. All of a sudden, all I could do was just stood frozen and my mind went blank. He spun me around that our face met, so did our eyes. We held our eyes one to each other for seconds until he let his hand off of my arm and cleared his throat.

"Can we just sit and talk?" he said gently. "I need to, like urgently."

I blinked several times. In few second, I found myself nodding. He led me to the cafeteria and we talked for about thirty minutes. We reached back the library immediately as remembered that we'd left Star and Wilona for way too long.

"We'll see you in an hour," said Daud before leaving. I just nodded and gave him a little smile.

In an hour later, Daud and Star approached my desk. A smile was plastered in his face and, on the other hand, Star's face was a bit wry. It was when they both stood in five inches away from me, Daud said that Star couldn't find the book as her teacher asked. I moved toward her, kneeled down, and softly caressed her golden hair. With a big, genuine smile on my face, I said, "It's okay. Just let me know what the books' names are and I'll find them for you. No matter what."

The wry expression on her face faded, being switched with cheery one.

"Really?" asked her deliriously with a grin that was totally like Daud's; she was the most perfect of replicate of young Daud in a girl-version. They shared the same skin, eyes, nose, lips, and eyebrows. It was only that she had freckles which Daud hadn't.

I nodded and brought her toward me, hugging her so tight like there was no tomorrow. My tears were about to fall, but as best as I could I attempted not to let them out. Star was the one who pulled away and finished our hug. I shrugged and smiled awkwardly as Daud approached closer to Star and me. We talked for another minutes until he and Star said goodbye. I waved at them and turned around to get back on my seat. I was still, however, able to hear Star's question for Daud.

"Daddy, who is she?"

"Just a friend of mine."

I let a heavy sigh come out of my mouth. Daud and Star just got off of my view and I buried my face into my hands. For many times since the first time I laid my eyes on Star, I couldn't hate her. I couldn't hate the love of life of a person whom was the source of my happiness.

Something, however, never left my mind. I kept thinking if he'd been patient for only a week before deciding to divorce me seven years ago, we'd have still been together to see and raise our 'Star'. Now he had his own 'Star', leaving me alone with all memories about him and my 'Star' that had ever lived in me for four weeks.

THE END.