It started with a message from Cristina.
> "Open mic night at Moonlit Grounds. You, me, everyone. 7PM sharp. Wear something that makes you feel like poetry."
Eira stared at the message and smiled. Moonlit Grounds was a cozy little underground café with soft fairy lights and too many beanbags. It was the kind of place where voices lowered naturally and even the air smelled like dreams steeped in coffee.
She thought of Auren.
Was he going to be there?
A minute later, another message arrived.
> Auren: I'll be there. You?
She didn't overthink her response.
> Yeah. I wouldn't miss it.
---
That evening, she slipped into a soft lilac dress and let her hair fall naturally around her shoulders. She wasn't the type to over-accessorize, but tonight, she wore a silver chain her father had given her when she published her first book.
Cristina picked her up, whistling as she saw her. "You look like you stepped out of a page."
"And you look like you stepped into a runway by accident," Eira teased.
"I take that as a compliment."
They reached the café just as Loira, Ryan, and Auren arrived.
Auren's eyes met hers.
For a moment, the café, the crowd, the city — everything fell away.
---
Inside, Moonlit Grounds was buzzing. A small stage stood at the front, fairy lights draped across the ceiling, casting a soft golden hue on everything. Musicians tuned their guitars, poets sipped nervous tea, and friends clinked cups quietly.
The group found a corner booth.
Ryan leaned toward Auren. "You signing up?"
Auren shrugged. "Maybe."
Eira tilted her head. "You play?"
He looked at her, then smiled. "You'll see."
---
Midway through the evening, the host took the mic.
"Next up — someone whose hands might be shy, but his heart speaks louder. Auren Silva, everyone."
Eira blinked. "Wait. What?"
Auren rose, humble and quiet. The crowd applauded politely as he walked to the piano.
The lights dimmed. Silence followed.
Then, he played.
It started slow, hesitant. Like a memory he was trying to remember. Then it bloomed — a melody of longing, quiet hope, and aching beauty. No lyrics, just notes. It was raw and unfinished, like a story paused at the best chapter.
Eira forgot to breathe.
The music wasn't perfect — it was real.
By the time he lifted his hands from the keys, the room was silent.
Then applause.
But Auren was already walking off stage and heading out the side door.
---
Eira followed, heart racing. She found him sitting outside beneath the canopy of café lights, his back resting against the brick wall.
"That was beautiful," she said.
He looked up. "Thanks. I wasn't sure if I should…"
"I'm glad you did."
A silence settled between them. Then she sat beside him.
"I didn't finish the song," he said quietly.
"Why not?"
"Because the ending always changes in my head. Sometimes it's bright. Sometimes… it just fades out."
Eira turned to him. "Then let someone help you write it."
He looked at her then — really looked — and his expression softened.
"You always say the right thing."
She gave a half-laugh. "No. Just the honest thing."
He reached out slowly, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear. The touch was light, but it set her heart alight.
"I wish I could stay in this moment," he murmured.
"So do I," she whispered.
For a second, they leaned closer — the air thick with something unsaid — but just then, his phone buzzed.
He sighed, glanced at the screen.
Leya.
"I need to take this."
She nodded, trying not to let the disappointment show.
He stepped away, answered the call. Eira sat there, arms folded tightly around herself.
A few minutes later, he returned.
"I'm sorry. Something came up. I have to go."
She stood. "Is everything okay?"
He hesitated. "I'll explain soon. I promise."
She nodded, even though she wanted to scream tell me now.
---
That night, she couldn't sleep.
The sound of the piano still echoed in her head. That melody. That look in his eyes.
She drifted into uneasy dreams.
She saw Auren standing on a train platform.
She was running toward him, but he was walking away.
No matter how fast she ran, she couldn't reach him.
"Wait!" she called.
He turned. Smiled sadly. Then vanished.
---
She woke up with tears on her cheeks.
She sat up, holding her pillow tightly.
"I love him… don't I?" she whispered.
The city outside her window was quiet.
But inside her, the storm had already begun.
---
Elsewhere, Auren sat beside Leya on a hospital bench.
He stared down at his hands, fists clenched.
"I almost told her tonight."
Leya looked at him. "Then why didn't you?"
"Because once I do… I can't pretend anymore."
Leya placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Then maybe it's time to stop pretending."
Auren nodded, eyes filled with the weight of too much silence.
"Soon," he whispered.
But he wasn't sure if soon would come soon enough.