The sky above the town was dark velvet, scattered with stars that seemed to beat like living hearts. The annual Festival of Lights was in full bloom, the streets lined with lanterns that drifted upward into the night, their soft glow mingling with the constellation.
Elena stood at the edge of the pier, her hands clasped loosely in front of her. The reflection of the lanterns shimmered across the water, like fallen stars resting gently on the waves. She had always loved this night, but this year, it felt different, more fragile but alive.
Behind her, footsteps echoed softly on the wooden planks. She didn't need to turn to know it was Adrian. The rhythm of his walk was etched into her memory.
"You found me," she said, her lips curving in a faint smile.
"I'd find you anywhere," he answered.
When she finally looked at him, her breath caught. The lantern light softened his features, casting shadows that deepened the lines of weariness on his face, but his eyes were bright, locked on her as though she was the only thing in his universe.
For a long time, neither spoke. The night stretched between them, filled with the quiet rustle of waves, the murmurs of distant laughter, and the faint hum of music drifting from the town square.
Elena broke the silence first. "It feels like the stars are watching us."
"Maybe they always were," Adrian said, stepping closer until his hands brushed hers. His touch was unsettled, almost adoring.
She felt her chest tighten. For weeks since his return, they had danced on the edge of something unnamed. There had been laughter, silences heavy with things unsaid. But now, under the lantern-lit sky, it felt impossible to keep holding back.
"Elena," he began, his voice low, "I need to tell you something."
Her heart pounded so loudly she was afraid he could hear it. "What is it?"
He swallowed, his jaw tightening as though he were bracing for battle. "When I was away... every night, I thought about you. I thought about your sketches, your laugh, the way you always smelled faintly of paint and coffee. I carried you with me into every dark place. You were my light, Elena. You kept me alive."
Her breath hitched, tears stinging her eyes.
He continued, his voice shaking now. "I don't know what the future looks like for me. I don't know if I'll ever stop waking up from nightmares, or if these scars will ever stop aching. But I know this... I love you. I've loved you since the moment you handed me that sketch of the sea. Maybe even before."
The words fell into the night, and for a moment, time seemed to stop. The lanterns rose higher, glowing against the stars, as though the heavens themselves bear witness.
Elena's tears slipped free, but she was smiling. "Adrian Vale," she whispered, "do you know how long I've waited to hear you say that?"
He blinked, startled. "You mean-"
"I love you," she said, her voice steady despite the shaking in her chest. "I've loved you through every letter I wrote, through every empty night I sat by the window. Even when I was afraid, even when it hurt... I love you and I still do."
The words broke something open in him. His shoulders dropped, relief and wonder flooding his face. He reached for her, pulling her into his arms as if he feared she might vanish with the wind.
When their lips met, it wasn't like the hesitant kisses they'd shared before. This one was raw, desperate, a confession sealed in tough. His mouth tasted of salt and longing, his hands trembled against her back, but his kiss carried all the unspoken promises he hadn't dared to voice.
She kissed him back with equal passion, her tears mingling with his, her fingers curling in the fabric of his shirt as though anchoring herself to reality. For the first time, there were no barriers, no distance, no silence, no unspoken fears. Only truth.
When they finally broke apart, their foreheads pressed together, Adrian whispered, "Say it again. Please."
Her smile trembled, but her voice was sure. "I love you."
His eyes closed, as though he was memorizing the sound. "I don't deserve you."
"You deserve everything," she countered softly. "And I'll keep reminding you until you believe it."
They stood like that for what felt like forever, wrapped in each other as lanterns drifted into the endless night.
Later, as they sat side by side on the pier, their hands intertwined, Elena pulled out her sketchbook. She flipped to a blank page, her pencil poised.
"What are you drawing?" Adrian asked, his voice still husky from their confession.
She smiled. "Us. Right now."
He chuckled softly. "The soldier and the painter."
"The boy who came back," she corrected, sketching the outline of his face. "And the girl who waited."
When she finished, she turned the sketch toward him. He stared at it for a long time, his throat working. "You make me look whole."
"That's because you are," she said simply.
His eyes softened, and he kissed her again, gently this time, as lanterns drifted above them like blessings from the stars.
That night, when they finally parted, Elena stood at her door watching Adrian walk away. He paused halfway down the street, turning back with that boyish grin she thought she might never see again.
"I'll see you tomorrow?" he called.
"You'd better," she teased, though her heart was still trembling from everything they had shared.
As he disappeared into the night, Elena pressed her hand to her chest. For the first time, the ache of waiting was gone. Love had been spoken, confessed, and it filled her like starlight: fragile, glowing, and eternal.