The Night

Selena and Alex made their way back to the inn in high spirits, the glow of the lantern festival still lingering in the air around them. Selena had a small pendant she had bought, a cherished keepsake of the evening.

It was in the shape of a crescent moon just like the lantern Alex bought for her. 

She couldn't stop smiling, and every now and then, she'd glance over at Alex. He walked with a calm, steady pace, hands in his pockets, but there was a softness in his expression that made her wonder if he'd enjoyed the festival as much as she had.

"That was... fun," Selena said, breaking the comfortable silence between them.

Alex glanced at her, his lips quirking into a slight smile. "It was. I'm glad you enjoyed it."

"I did," she said, hugging the lantern closer to her chest. "It's been so long since I've felt this... This much at ease."