Lonely Star

"What are you doing over here?"

"I saw you at the funeral… you walked away after the body was set on fire." Mira stepped out from behind the corner.

She wasn't wearing her usual green apron anymore—just black pants and a white shirt.

She walked closer to Evryn, then leaned against the building, resting her hands behind her back.

"What do you need?"

Mira glanced down at him. "You seemed down, so I wanted to check on you."

Evryn's eyes twitched slightly at her words before he let out a sigh. "That's kind of you, but believe me, I'm fine."

"Doesn't seem like it, considering you came out here."

He had no excuse. She was right.

Evryn wasn't sure what to say. He didn't like opening up to people—never had. Most of the time, he deflected, shifting conversations toward others, ideas, or anything that wasn't about himself.

"Yeah… It was just a lot to take in, so I came out here for some air."

She smiled softly. "That makes sense."

Evryn looked up at her. "Why are you being so nice to me? You only met me today."

Mira smiled, tilting her head up toward the starry sky. "Back when I was a kid, my mama always used to say—" She lifted her hand, pointing a finger as if mimicking someone. "Mira, you should never be mean to anyone or anything, even if you only talk to them once." She wagged her finger up and down, playfully exaggerating her mother's bossy tone.

Lowering her hand, she continued. "Because of her, I learned that you should always be kind to people, no matter who they are. You never know what someone's going through or what they've been through. A little kindness, even the smallest gesture, can change someone's mood… maybe even their life."

"Not only would you make someone happy, but you'd also be remembered for your kindness!" Mira took her hands from behind her back, placing them over her heart.

"I want to be remembered for my kindness… for my loving heart." She glanced down at Evryn again, smiling. "If you're nice to someone, it can change them—no matter who they are!" She moved her hands back behind her.

Evryn listened, letting her words sink in. She was right. When he talked to her back at the café, she made him feel… lighter. Happier. Like a small light had flickered into his heart.

For the first time in a while, he let his guard down—just a little.

Staring at the ground, he muttered, "Most of my life, I've been alone. Never really had anyone to watch over me or take care of me. My teen years… even my childhood, for the most part. I always had to rely on myself."

Mira stayed quiet, listening intently.

"I understand. Being lonely sucks—it's a sucky, stinky feeling. But it's natural. We all experience it."

Evryn glanced at her. "Why did you say I'm 'special' or 'different' from everyone else?"

"When you walked into my shop, I saw your eyes. They looked… different from any I've ever seen."

"What do you mean?"

"I believe everyone's eyes are beautiful, no matter who they are. They tell stories—stories of hardship, struggle, love… everything. If you look closely enough, you can learn so much about a person just by looking into their eyes."

Evryn raised a brow. "So, what's special about mine?"

Mira hesitated, as if searching for the right words. "Your eyes… they had so much life in them. But also death. And pain." She exhaled, shaking her head slightly. "I've never seen anything like it before. It was beautiful… and scary at the same time. I don't even know how to describe it."

Evryn let her words settle in. Eyes, huh…

"Is that it?"

Mira blushed slightly. "And… you're also quite handsome."

A small smirk curled on Evryn's lips. Her words sent a faint tingle through his chest.

Mira's eyes widened as she quickly took her hands from behind her back. "Oh! Sorry for going off track. I can get carried away sometimes."

Evryn let out a soft chuckle. "It's fine."

Mira tilted her head slightly. "But back to what you said earlier… you have friends, don't you? I've seen you hanging out with them before. How can you still feel lonely?"

Evryn leaned his head back against the wall, gazing up at the sky. "I don't know. Most of my life, I've always felt alone. No matter where I was or who I was with… it was just always there."

Mira's expression softened, concern flickering in her eyes.

"But through all of that, I realized something," Evryn continued. "Everyone carries loneliness. No matter how hard we try to ignore it, run from it, or even pretend it's not there… it is. And it always has been."

He sighed, then went on. "I believe that even when we find happiness, form connections, or surround ourselves with people who care about us… if someone were to take all of that away, we'd be lonely again."

Evryn turned his gaze to Mira. "So… does that mean that, deep down, we're all truly lonely? Is it just an inherent part of who we are? No matter what we do… it never really goes away."

Mira was left speechless. She hadn't expected something so heavy, so profound.

Evryn exhaled, his voice quieter now. "Most people fear loneliness. Some hate it. But if I'm being honest… I think loneliness has been my one and only true friend."

Mira absorbed Evryn's words carefully, her expression clouded with uncertainty. She didn't quite know how to respond, unsure of what to say to ease the heaviness in the air.

Evryn noticed her hesitation and smiled faintly. "It's fine if you don't know how to answer," he said softly. "I didn't expect you to."

For a moment, Mira's mood shifted, her thoughts lingering on his words. But she quickly pushed them aside, eager to change the subject, to lighten the moment, if only a little.

"Have you ever heard of the legend of Astrid Novara? Or as some like to call her, 'The Woman Born of the Stars'?"

Evryn shook his head. "No, I haven't."

Mira's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm as she spoke. "Well, people say that long ago, when a great star died, a being was born from its explosion. Her essence became stardust, cosmic energy—an entity woven into the fabric of the universe."

Evryn raised an eyebrow, intrigued by her words. "What else does the legend say?"

"She can give energy to dying stars, guide lost ships back home… some even say she has the power to reshape the stars themselves." Mira's gaze drifted upward, her hands still resting behind her back as the wind tousled her hair, the night sky stretched out above them. "I've always dreamed of being among the stars, or… maybe even meeting her one day."

Her voice softened as she spoke of the dream. "That would be a dream come true."

Evryn was silent for a moment, absorbing the wistful longing in her voice. The stars above seemed to hold a certain kind of magic, and for a brief moment, Mira's words pulled him away from the weight of the world.

"Yeah," he finally replied, his voice quiet. "That sounds… like a dream worth chasing."