Elena sat by her window every night, gazing at the moon. She liked imagining that someone else, somewhere far away, was looking at the same moon, thinking of her too. It made her feel less lonely.
In a small town miles away, Ethan often lay on his rooftop, staring at the sky. He found comfort in the stars, especially the brightest one near the moon. He always wished upon it – a silent wish for love, though he never spoke it aloud.
They lived in the same city but had never met. Life kept them apart with busy schedules, different schools, and silent roads they never crossed. Until one evening in autumn, when the air smelled of fallen leaves and the sky glowed in gentle gold, they met.
Elena was walking home from her part-time job at the bookstore. She carried a box of unsold books to donate to the nearby library. The box was too heavy, so she stopped to rest on the roadside bench. Her hair was tied loosely, with a few strands escaping to dance in the evening breeze. Her cheeks were pink from exhaustion.
Ethan was jogging, his hoodie damp with sweat. He slowed down when he saw her. Something about her caught his attention – maybe the way she sat quietly with tired eyes, maybe the small smile she gave to the sky as if whispering secrets to it.
“Need help with that?” he asked, pointing at the box.
Elena startled but then nodded. “If you don’t mind.”
He lifted the box effortlessly, surprising her. “Where to?”
“The library, just across the street.”
They walked in silence. Elena kept glancing at him. His hair was dark and slightly curly, falling over his forehead. His eyes were warm, matching his gentle smile.
“Thank you… um…” she paused, realising she didn’t know his name.
“Ethan,” he said.
“Elena.”
They exchanged a smile – a small one, but sincere.
At the library, he placed the box down and looked around. “You work here?”
“I work at the bookstore near the station, but these books are old stock. I didn’t want them thrown away.”
“That’s kind,” he said, genuinely impressed.
For a moment, neither spoke. The librarian called her inside to sign donation papers. When she returned, Ethan was gone. Her chest felt strangely empty, as if she had lost something before even having it.
That night, she sat by her window again, thinking of him. Did he look at the moon too? She closed her eyes, silently wishing to meet him again.
Meanwhile, Ethan couldn’t sleep. He lay on his rooftop, thinking of her tired eyes, her small smile. For the first time, his wish upon the brightest star had a name – Elena.
Days passed. They didn’t meet. Autumn turned to winter. Snow began falling softly, covering the streets in white silence.
One snowy evening, Elena stood outside the bookstore, watching snowflakes dance under the streetlights. Suddenly, she heard someone call her name.
“Elena!”
She turned around. There he was, running towards her with a shy smile. His cheeks were red from cold.
“I’ve been looking for you,” he said, breathless.
Her heart raced. “Why?”
He scratched his neck nervously. “I… I wanted to see you again. I regretted not asking for your number.”
She smiled softly, the cold forgotten. “I wanted to see you too.”
He laughed quietly, relief flooding his eyes. “Can I walk you home?”
She nodded. They walked side by side, their footsteps crunching on fresh snow.
“Do you believe in wishes?” he asked suddenly.
She looked up at him. “Wishes?”
“Yeah. Like… wishing on stars or the moon.”
She laughed lightly. “I do. Every night, I look at the moon and wish someone out there is thinking of me too.”
He stopped walking. The snow fell gently around them, silent and beautiful. He took her hands in his, warming her cold fingers.
“I was wishing upon the stars for love,” he whispered, his voice trembling slightly. “I think my wish came true.”
Her eyes widened, tears gathering without falling. She smiled, glowing under the streetlights.
From that day, they spent every evening together. Some days they sat in silence, just listening to each other’s breathing, feeling the warmth of having someone beside them. Other days, they laughed until their stomachs hurt, sharing stories, dreams, and fears.
On New Year’s Eve, Ethan brought Elena to his rooftop. He had set up a small table with warm drinks, two chairs, and a blanket. The sky above them was alive with fireworks, painting colours across the dark canvas.
“Happy New Year, Elena,” he whispered, pulling her into his arms.
“Happy New Year, Ethan,” she whispered back.
They kissed under the exploding lights, under the same sky where their wishes had found each other. The stars above sparkled brighter than ever, as if smiling down on them.
That night, neither of them wished upon a star. They didn’t need to. Their wishes were already holding their hands, looking into their eyes, and promising to stay.
They realised love wasn’t about dramatic confessions or destiny-written coincidences. Love was two people choosing to hold each other close every day. Love was silent wishes answered in gentle ways.
Under the same sky where their stories began, they promised to keep looking at the moon together, no longer alone.
