The night was colder than Luna had anticipated. The frost bit at her cheeks as she followed Liam across the open field, their breath visible in the icy air. The world was quiet, save for the crunch of their boots on the snow and the occasional whisper of wind through the trees.
"Are you sure this is the right spot?" Luna asked, pulling her scarf tighter around her neck.
"Positive," Liam said, glancing back at her. His eyes glimmered with excitement, his boyish enthusiasm as infectious as it had been years ago.
Luna sighed, shaking her head. "You're like a kid on Christmas morning."
"Just wait," Liam said, grinning. "You'll see."
They reached the top of a gentle slope, where the trees gave way to an open expanse. The sky above was a deep navy blue, dotted with stars. Liam set down his backpack, pulling out a thermos and a couple of blankets.
"Here," he said, handing her a steaming cup of cocoa.
Luna took it gratefully, wrapping her fingers around the warm mug. "Thanks."
They sat down on the blankets, the vast sky stretching out above them. For a while, neither of them spoke.
Then, it began.
A faint shimmer of green rippled across the horizon, so subtle at first that Luna thought she was imagining it. But then it grew brighter, spreading and twisting in graceful arcs, as though the heavens were painting themselves before their eyes.
Luna gasped, her breath catching in her throat. "Oh my God..."
"Yeah," Liam said softly, his gaze fixed on the sky. "It's incredible, isn't it?"
The lights danced above them, shifting from green to purple to hints of gold. Luna couldn't tear her eyes away, the beauty of it overwhelming.
"It's like... magic," she whispered.
Liam turned to her, his expression unreadable. "It is."
When Luna finally glanced at him, she realized he wasn't looking at the lights. He was looking at her.
"Liam..." she began, her voice trembling.
"I know," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I know you're with Daniel. I know this trip doesn't change anything. But being here, with you... it feels right. Like this is how it was always supposed to be."
Luna's heart ached at his words. Part of her wanted to argue, to tell him he was wrong. But another part—the part she had buried long ago—felt the same way.
"I don't know what to say," she admitted, tears pricking her eyes.
"You don't have to say anything," Liam said, his hand brushing hers. "I just... I needed you to know."
Luna looked away, her emotions a storm she couldn't control. "This is so unfair," she whispered. "You can't just come back into my life and expect me to forget everything."
"I don't expect that," Liam said. "But I had to try. I couldn't let you go without fighting for us."
The lights above them grew brighter, casting a surreal glow over the snow-covered landscape. Luna closed her eyes, letting the moment wash over her.
When she opened them, she turned to Liam, her decision clear in her mind.
"Liam," she said, her voice steady. "I can't..."
Before she could finish, her phone buzzed in her pocket. She hesitated, then pulled it out. It was a message from Austin.
> Are you okay? I miss you.
Luna stared at the screen, her heart pounding. The two men in her life—the one who represented safety and the one who represented chaos—were pulling her in opposite directions.
She glanced at Liam, who was watching her with a mixture of hope and resignation.
"I need time," she said finally, her voice breaking. "I can't make this decision right now."
Liam nodded, his expression softening. "Take all the time you need."