|Author’s P.o.V.|

  Life is not always, and sometimes not at all, the way we want it to be. It continues to flow like the waters of a waterfall, impossible to stop—unless you block its path. But even then, the water rises and finds a new way to keep flowing in its direction.

   However, there are waterfalls where the water flows so slowly that, when blocked, it makes no effort to push past the obstacle. Depression feels exactly like that.

   Your life seems to go on, but it moves so slowly and painfully that anything can stop you from continuing.

   A young girl named Nicole, around 18 years old, suffers from depression. The reason for it is unknown even to her. Whenever she tries to explain what’s wrong, not a single word comes out of her mouth. This only makes her illness worse, causing her to withdraw even further into herself. It’s as if she has turned into an empty shell of a human being. But if you look deeper into her soul, you’d see that all she ever wanted was to be happy…

                           |Nikole's P.o.V.|

  Outside this train window, heavy rain is pouring down, accompanied by strong winds that make the tips of trees and plants sway in their direction, controlling the rain as well. I wish I could step out of these train doors and take a walk. Many think I’m crazy for loving heavy rain with cold wind and hating the sun.

   I don’t care about their opinion—or maybe I do… But still, this is the one thing I truly love at the moment. I leaned against the train window and put on my headphones, letting a pleasant melody fill my ears. Behind my cabin, it was very noisy—I don’t like noise. But music… it allows me to feel what’s happening outside.

   Right now, I’m heading home. Home… I don’t even know if I can call it that. I placed my index finger on the cold window, where raindrops were streaming down, and traced one that had just hit the glass on the other side. Moving my finger downward along its path, I stopped at the very end, watching until the drop disappeared from view.

   I was recently released from the orphanage. The government supposedly gave me an apartment. It’s not very cozy—just a regular one-room apartment with a small empty kitchen, a bathroom, and a single bed. I’ve been living there alone for a month now. Right now, I’m returning from my job at a small fast-food place. I wanted to find one near my neighborhood, but many refused to hire me, so I had to take a job farther away. I sighed and closed my eyes.

   Honestly, I don’t even know why I’m thinking about all this now. I have no friends, no relatives. And every day, my thoughts tear me apart. It hurts so damn much. I tried to make friends, but my closed-off nature wouldn’t allow it.

   A single tear rolled down my cheek. I didn’t even bother to wipe it away. I just… maybe, just maybe, I could be happy? Feel happiness, even just a little? At least at the end of this day. I don’t want anything else—just to be happy. To smile genuinely, to laugh so hard my stomach hurts. To feel that kind of joy.

   In my dreams, I almost always see the same guy. He’s very sweet. He has a beautiful face and deer-like blue eyes with little sparks in them. His lower lip is fuller than his upper lip. He’s much taller than me—I barely reach his shoulder. He’s very strong. And he has pale skin, so flawless it almost seems to glow like sunlight.

   Whenever I meet him in my dreams, he tries to make me smile—doing cute tricks with balloons, telling jokes that actually make me laugh. He has a dazzling smile that melts my heart. I always smile in those dreams. Another tear slipped down my cheek. Just remembering him brought a barely noticeable smile to my lips. Maybe it’s crazy, but that guy from my dreams makes me feel something real.

   The train stopped. Thinking it was my station, I slowly opened my eyes, rubbing them with my hands. When I fully opened them, I was surprised to see where I was. I had been riding in the public section, but there were no people—it was empty. Looking out the window, I saw that this was indeed my station. Yet, still in shock, I remained in my seat. The rain was still falling.

   Holding onto the open doors, a guy stepped into the train and walked toward me, dusting off his hands.

   No way.

   It was the guy from my dreams.

   My eyes widened in shock. He was wearing black trousers and a pristine white shirt with a star-stitched seam on the corner of the front pocket. He was barefoot. His dark hair, surprisingly, was dry.

   — "Hello," he said in a sweet, deep voice—pleasant like honey.

   I stayed silent. I was too shocked to answer.

   He sat down right next to me and reached out his hand to take mine. I shook my head and pulled both my hands away, pressing them against my cheek.

   He smiled gently. — "I will grant your wish. Isn’t this what you wanted—to be happy for the rest of the day?"

   I nodded and murmured in a trembling voice, — "Y-yes."

   He chuckled slightly, scrunching his nose. — "I am Aakn, a star. I will grant your wish. The rest of the day belongs to you. You can do whatever you want."

   The realization of what he had just said didn’t fit into my mind. How was this even possible? Maybe I was still dreaming, and this was just another one of my dreams about him.

   He placed his hand over mine, which were still pressed against my cheek. His hand was bigger than mine, almost covering both of them completely.

   — "I’m real," he affirmed, as if reading my thoughts. Maybe he could? Was I really going crazy?

   He frowned. — "You’re not crazy. And I’m telling the truth. Today, the rest of the day is yours. Just as you wished."

   A strange warmth spread inside me. I stopped caring whether this was a dream or reality. Maybe this was my only chance.

   — "Alright," I murmured.

   His face lit up. He took my hand and helped me stand up. Then, he jumped off the train, and I followed him.

                                      ✨

   The rain was pouring down in torrents, and the cold, strong wind blew against our faces, making our hair sway. It felt wonderful.

   Still holding hands, we ran out of the train station. Adrenaline surged through my veins, reaching my heart. I was completely soaked, but I didn’t care. I loved this feeling—running in the rain.

   We ran without stopping until he suddenly halted in the middle of the road. That’s when I noticed—there was no one in the city. Not a single soul. It was just me and Aakn standing alone. No sound of cars, no chatter of people.

   He took both of my hands. —"Let’s spin around," he said, seeming just as excited as I was.

   I smiled slightly and nodded. —"Let’s do it."

   We held onto each other tightly and simply twirled around. I tilted my head up and closed my eyes, feeling the raindrops against my skin. His laughter blended with mine.

   He stopped spinning but still held my hands. —"Do you want me to take you somewhere?" he questioned, his voice louder than a whisper. This time, he was completely drenched, his hair falling over his eyes.

   I nodded slowly.

   —"Where?" I asked, looking into his blue eyes.

   —"You'll see." He smiled in response, and we walked toward a nearby grocery store. I frowned, not understanding why we were here. It was a pretty small place.

   He opened the door, and we stepped inside. The moment we did, our clothes and bodies dried magically.

   It turned out to be a bar—much larger than it had appeared from the outside. The dim lighting cast a soft purple glow over the room. Rows of tables lined the bar counter where the bartender served drinks, and there were smaller tables with two chairs each scattered throughout the space.

   He let go of my hand and walked over to where the bartender stood. He disappeared behind the counter, and after a few seconds, he stood up again. His clothes had changed. He was now dressed as a bartender. Flashing me a professional smile, he gestured toward the bar stool across from him.

   —"Please, have a seat, madam," he said politely.

   I walked over and sat where he pointed, folding my hands in my lap.

   —"What would you like to order?" he asked, wiping down a glass.

   I hesitated, unsure of what to say. I had never been to a place like this before, and I didn’t know if I could drink alcohol. But I didn’t want any. I wanted something unique, something delicious. Though I was too embarrassed to say it out loud, I simply answered, —"Anything."

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

   He glanced at me from the side and nodded. He reached his hand out as if grabbing a bottle from the counter, and out of thin air, a sparkling bottle appeared—it looked like a bottle of wine but with shimmering effects.

   —"Wow," I murmured, amazed and stunned.

   He smiled and poured the drink into a glass, filling it halfway. The liquid was a soft lavender color, with tiny glittering specks on the surface.

   —"Try it," he said, resting his elbow on the counter and propping his chin against the back of his hand.

   I glanced at him, then at the glass. Slowly, I picked it up, holding it between my fingers, and took a sip.

   It was slightly fizzy, but not too much. There was a taste of apples mixed with other berries. I liked it.

   —"It’s delicious," I said, looking at the drink before shifting my gaze back to him with a small smile. —"Thank you."

   The corners of his lips curled into a charming smile. Just then, the song "Still With You" began playing. The melody filled the room, washing over me.

   He stepped out from behind the counter, walking toward me with slow, deliberate steps. His clothes changed again, this time like a curtain of white snow covering him. Now, he wore a completely white suit with matching dress shoes. His dark hair was slicked back, with a few loose strands falling onto his forehead.

   He stopped in front of me and extended his hand. —"Would you like to dance?"

   I stared at him with wide eyes, feeling my cheeks flush. —"I don’t know how to dance," I admitted.

   Slowly, just like the first time, he took my hand. And in an instant, my clothes transformed as well, with the same magical effect. I now wore a white dress, its length just below my knees, and elegant white heels adorned with a pearl on top.

   —"I’ll teach you."

   He led me to the center of the room. Placing his right hand on my waist, he guided my right hand to rest on his left shoulder. Then, he intertwined our left hands together.

   A shiver ran down my spine as we started to dance. He released my left hand, took my right one, and spun me away. Then, repeating the same movement, he twirled me back into his arms. My back pressed against his chest. He wrapped his arms around me from behind, his breath warm against my neck. Then, he turned me to face him again.

   We resumed our original stance, dancing while gazing into each other’s eyes. I was mesmerized by his beautiful gaze.

   The song came to an end, and I was sure my face was redder than ever. He chuckled softly at my reaction. —"You look adorable."

   I pulled away, covering my face. —"No, I don’t."

   He gently moved my hands away. —"A star is telling you that you’re adorable. That means you’re more beautiful and radiant than anyone else. Even though I know many stars, believe me—you shine brighter than all of them."

   I just stared at him. That was… That sounded so beautiful. I felt warmth spreading through my chest, as if I had been waiting my whole life for someone to say those words to me. And yet, this was more beautiful than anything I could have ever expected.

   He smirked slightly at my reaction, and I blinked, looking away.

   With his index finger, he gently tilted my chin up, making me look at him again. —"There’s one last thing I want to show you."

   —"What is this?" I asked, genuinely curious. What comes next? And the thought that this was the last time tormented my mind.

   Suddenly, he lifted me into his arms in a bridal style. I let out a quiet gasp, wrapping my arms tightly around his neck and burying my face against it.

   —"To the clouds," he replied.

   Then, I felt that sensation, like when you ride an elevator and it stops. A slow breeze brushed against my face, and the lower part of my dress swayed in the pleasant wind.

   I lifted my face from his neck and looked around. He was standing on a cloud, holding me. Soft golden rays of sunlight shone through the other clouds. Faint outlines of a rainbow were visible through the dim brightness. The air smelled of rain. It wasn't as bright as a sunny day or as dark as a foggy one—just pleasantly in between.

   He tried to let go of me, but I clung to him tighter.

   —"What if I fall?"

   —"You'll be fine. Trust me," he reassured me.

   He slowly released me. As I set my foot on the cloud, it slightly sank. It felt as if I was standing on cotton.

   —"Do you like it?"

   I nodded and took a few steps. A wide smile appeared on my face.

   —"It's so cool. I don’t even know how this is possible."

   I tried to touch the cloud, but in my hands, it felt like mist, and my fingers passed right through it.

   He sat down and picked up a piece of the cloud. He shaped it into a cute little bear.

   I sat next to him. He handed me the toy—or whatever it was. It was so soft that it felt like if I squeezed it too hard, it would disappear.

   —"With me, anything is possible," he repeated at last.

   I hummed in response, stroking the little bear.

   —"Nicole."

   I looked at him. This was the first time he had called me by my name. Though, after all this magic, I wasn't surprised that he knew it.

   —"Yes?"

   —"You never really said what you wanted to do yourself, so I improvised, showing you places and things I love. Sorry if I couldn’t satisfy you enough." He smiled at the end. I knew he understood that I enjoyed everything, but it seemed like he wanted to hear it from me directly.

   —"I loved it. I loved every single moment," I said with a sincere smile. Even in my dreams, he always made me smile. But now, in real life, I felt true happiness. It was so good. My heart was overflowing.

   —"I’m really grateful to you. This short time has been the happiest of my life."

   He lay on his stomach, resting his chin on his hand.

   —"I'm glad if you liked it. You're the first person whose wish I've granted."

   I looked at him in surprise.

   —"How come? I thought stars were old."

   He laughed, his eyes narrowing, revealing his bunny-like teeth. The sound was music to my ears.

   —"No, not at all!" he protested, catching his breath. "Well, in a way, you're right. But I'm a young star. I'm only 240 years old."

   —"That’s not young," I muttered, still playing with the little bear.

   —"That’s only old in human years. I'm actually one of the youngest stars," he explained, sitting up.

   I just sat there, stroking the bear. I really liked it. I wished I could keep it.

   —"You can," he said.

   Oh, right, he can read minds. My cheeks turned pink.

   He smirked again and looked at the sun’s rays, then at the sky.

   —"Only an hour left until the end of the day," he said.

   My hand, which had been playing with the toy, stopped. Right… an hour, and the day would end. I would be alone again with my thoughts, and I would never see him again. A dull pain returned to my chest. I felt the same ache I had before he arrived, but somehow, it was even worse now.

   —"You're leaving?" I asked in a weak voice. My previous joy faded.

   He seemed to notice the change in me.

   —"I have to," he said, his voice carrying a hint of sadness.

   I hesitated for a moment.

   —"Maybe… maybe we could spend the last hour at my place?"

   He looked at me and nodded with a sad smile.

   Throughout the whole day, his face had never shown irritation or frustration. He had always shone brightly.

   Standing up, he lifted me again. I held onto his neck tightly with one arm while holding the bear with the other. Once again, I hid my face against his neck, afraid of the height.

   The breeze brushed past us again. I pulled away slightly, and he set me down. We were in my bedroom. It was dark outside. The clock read 23:07. Fifty-three minutes left.

   Placing the bear on a nearby chair, I looked at my bed. I had always dreamed of hugging someone I liked. Liked? Maybe… yes, I liked him. In my dreams, I had felt comfortable with him. And now, even more so.

   Fidgeting with my fingers, I asked, looking into his shimmering eyes,

   —"Can we… just cuddle for the last time?" I blushed.

   His face also turned slightly pink. And—oh no—I forgot that he could read minds. Did he hear that I liked him? My blush deepened.

   He rubbed the back of his neck, looking anywhere but at me.

   —"Uh… yeah, sure."

   For the first time, I saw him flustered. All this time, he had been calm and composed.

  Aakn sat on the bed. As he placed his head on the pillow, his sparkling suit transformed into a snow-white pajama set.

   —"Wow… This is nice. Though not as soft as the clouds."

   I chuckled slightly and lay down beside him, facing him while he rested on his left arm.

   My dress also transformed into white pajamas.

   Looking at him, I saw that his face had no scars, no flaws. He was perfect.

   He looked at me and stretched out his right arm, inviting me to lie against him.

   Even though I was the one who suggested it, I hesitated, suddenly realizing this was a bad idea.

   —"Don't be afraid of me. I won't hurt you," he reassured me.

   —"I know," I replied and lay against him. He pulled me closer, wrapping an arm around my shoulders, while I hugged him around the waist.

   I knew he wouldn’t hurt me. I had just felt a sudden wave of shyness.

   His chest rose and fell rhythmically, and I could hear the steady beat of his heart.

   —"You have a heart in your human form," I noted more than asked.

   He hummed in response.

   —"What are you thinking about?" I asked, noticing he seemed deep in thought.

   Aakn shrugged.

   —"Nothing, really."

   I lifted my head to look at his face. He gazed back at me, and I felt lost again in those beautiful, softly glowing eyes in the darkness.

   My gaze dropped to his slightly parted lips.

   What was it like to kiss someone? To kiss someone you liked? Someone who had made you the happiest person in just a few hours?

   He moved me slightly higher so our faces were almost level.

   He looked into my eyes, then at my lips.

   Closing his eyes, he leaned in slowly and pressed his lips against mine in a feather-light touch.

   My eyes widened. My heart pounded violently. My body burned.

   He held his lips there for a few seconds before pulling away, smiling sweetly.

   —"Sorry. You kept thinking about my lips, and I… somehow wanted to as well," he chuckled, scrunching his nose.

   I didn’t know why he was apologizing. I liked it. A lot.

   He stroked my flushed cheek with his hand.

   —"Even though I always shine and burn at an average of 300 degrees, right now, it's over 1000."

   I laughed softly.

   —"Don’t say it like that—it sounds creepy."

   He laughed too.

   —"Aakn," I called softly.

   He was still stroking my face with his thumb.

   —"Do you want to be my star?"

   His hand stopped. Did I say something wrong? Did he not like it? I wanted to apologize and take my words back.

   He kissed my forehead, taking me by surprise.

   —"I would love to, if you’ll be my Starlight."

   My cheeks turned pink.

   —"Okay."

   For a moment, he studied my face before saying,

   —"There are only a few minutes left before I disappear. Close your eyes while holding me. Agreement?"

   I fought back my tears. He was leaving. I would be alone again.

   But I forced a bright smile.

   —"Promise."

   I let out a soft sigh and buried my face against his chest, closing my eyes and biting my lower lip.

   Aakn stroked my s

houlder, holding me. My eyelids grew heavy, and I drifted into sleep.

   The last thing I remembered was feeling emptiness beside me and a dry tear rolling down my cheek….

                            |Author's P.o.v.|

  There were only two minutes left before Aakn had to leave. He slowly began to rise, gently moving her hands away from him and covering her with the blanket. Pulling it up to her shoulders, he leaned down and placed a soft kiss on her temple.

   Straightening up, he looked at her one last time. One minute remained.

   "I don’t know what this feeling is. I don’t know why I kissed you, I don’t know why I feel this way after only spending a few hours with you. But I promise that I will keep shining for you. And I will find a way to understand if this is what it feels like to like someone... or if it’s love at first sight. I realized that you’ve seen me many times in your dreams. I wish I had at least that kind of chance."

   He finished with a sad smile. A single tear fell from his eye, turning into a spark.

   And with those tiny shimmering sparks, he disappeared. 

   In the sky, just a little past the North Star, a new, bright, flickering star of a vivid blue color appeared.