Written in the Stars

Sophia hated blind dates. Yet, there she was, sitting in a dimly lit restaurant, her phone clutched in her hand as she waited for a man named Noah.

Her best friend, Emma, had insisted. “He’s perfect for you! He’s smart, funny, and single. You need this, Sophia.”

Sophia wasn’t so sure. After her last breakup, she’d sworn off dating for a while. But Emma’s relentless enthusiasm—and a mild case of loneliness—had convinced her to give it one last shot.

She glanced at the clock on her phone. 7:10 PM. He was late.

“Maybe this was a mistake,” she muttered, reaching for her bag.

Just then, a man stumbled into the restaurant, slightly out of breath. He scanned the room and spotted her.

“Sophia?” he asked, his voice deep but warm.

She looked up and froze. He was handsome—scruffy brown hair, sharp jawline, and kind blue eyes.

“Yes,” she said, standing awkwardly.

“Noah,” he introduced himself, holding out his hand. “Sorry I’m late. There was this dog in the street, and I—never mind. Long story. Hi.”

Sophia couldn’t help but laugh. “Hi.”

---

The first five minutes were... awkward. They exchanged polite small talk about work (she was a graphic designer; he was an astronomer), family (he had a big one; she was an only child), and hobbies (he loved stargazing; she preferred books).

But then Noah said something that broke the tension.

“I have to admit,” he said, leaning forward, “I almost bailed on this date.”

Sophia raised an eyebrow. “Oh, really?”

“Blind dates aren’t my thing,” he confessed. “But my sister basically blackmailed me into coming. Apparently, I need to ‘get out more.’”

Sophia laughed, relaxing. “Same here. My best friend guilt-tripped me into this.”

“Ah, the power of peer pressure,” Noah said, grinning. “Well, here’s to our very reluctant date.” He raised his glass of water, and Sophia clinked hers against it.

---

As the night went on, the awkwardness faded. Sophia found herself laughing at Noah’s stories about his job—like the time he accidentally spilled coffee on a telescope lens.

“So, let me get this straight,” she said, grinning. “You, a professional astronomer, ruined a high-tech telescope with coffee?”

“In my defense, it was a very good cup of coffee,” Noah said, feigning indignation.

Sophia shook her head, smiling. “That’s ridiculous.”

He leaned forward, his tone playful. “You think that’s bad? Wait until I tell you about the time I dropped my phone into a crater on a field trip to Iceland.”

By the end of dinner, Sophia realized she hadn’t had this much fun in ages.

---

As they stepped out of the restaurant, a crisp breeze greeted them. Sophia wrapped her coat tighter around herself, and Noah noticed.

“Cold?” he asked.

“A little,” she admitted.

Without hesitation, he shrugged off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders.

“Chivalry isn’t dead, huh?” Sophia teased.

“Not yet,” Noah said with a wink.

They walked in comfortable silence for a while until Noah suddenly stopped.

“Look up,” he said.

Sophia frowned but did as he said. The sky was clear, the stars twinkling like diamonds scattered across velvet.

“Beautiful, right?” Noah said softly.

Sophia nodded. “I don’t usually take the time to notice.”

“That’s the thing about stars,” he said. “They’re always there, but we’re too busy to look.”

Sophia turned to him, her heart skipping a beat at the sincerity in his voice. “You really love them, don’t you?”

Noah smiled, his gaze still fixed on the sky. “They remind me that there’s so much more out there. And sometimes, they help you find your way.”

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The world seemed to shrink, leaving just the two of them under the vast expanse of the universe.

---

As Noah walked Sophia to her car, he hesitated.

“I had a great time tonight,” he said, scratching the back of his neck.

“Me too,” Sophia admitted, surprising herself.

“So... would you want to do this again?” he asked, his voice tinged with nervousness.

Sophia pretended to think. “Hmm, only if there’s no coffee near any telescopes.”

Noah laughed. “Deal.”

---

That night, as Sophia lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, she couldn’t stop smiling. Maybe Emma had been right. Maybe it wasn’t such a bad idea to let someone new in.

Because sometimes, love doesn’t come when you’re looking for it. Sometimes, it just happens—like a shooting star across an unguarded night sky.

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