I looked at the clock.
10:00 p.m.
Still awake.
I'd been lying there for hours, tossing around like sleep was something I had to chase. I tried music, anime, random videos — the usual distractions. But nothing worked.
I just couldn't quiet my thoughts.
So I got up, slowly. Opened the door as quietly as I could, even though no one was awake to hear it. Walked through the dark hallway, unlocked the front door, and slipped outside.
The night air hit me instantly. Cold. Still.
The whole street was silent — not the fake kind of quiet, but the real kind, the kind that makes your chest feel lighter.
I started walking.
After a few minutes, I passed by the same spot. The streetlamp. And under it — the girl.
Same girl from before.
She was sitting there again, hoodie up, headphones around her neck. I looked at her for half a second, then kept walking.
Don't overthink it, I told myself. She's just a stranger.
I made my way across the bridge. The water below was flowing softly, and the moon was reflected on the surface like a secret it wanted to share. I loved that. The night sky. The stars. The way everything felt bigger and smaller at the same time.
The moon, though — the moon always stood out.
Everyone's first crush, I thought. Mine too.
I'd take pictures of it sometimes, just to remind myself that something out there always stays the same.
A little further ahead, I passed by the usual group of drunk guys sleeping near the sidewalk, like they'd been dropped there by the wind. Nothing new. This wasn't the first time I'd snuck out like this.
I didn't sleep much. Not at night, not during the day. Even with sleeping pills, it was a struggle. So I started walking. Often. Just to feel okay. Just to pass time.
I hope my parents never find out.
This had become my routine. My secret.
Eventually, I went back home. Quietly back to my room. Back to pretending like I'd had a normal night.
---
Two weeks later.
Another sleepless night. Another quiet walk.
Same route. Same silence.
I reached the streetlamp — and there she was again.
But this time, just as I walked past her:
"Hey."
I stopped.
Turned.
She was looking at me — calm, a little curious. The light above her made her hoodie look violet, almost glowing. Her headphones were resting on her shoulders.
"You can't sleep either?" she asked.
I hesitated, caught off guard.
"Yeah," I said finally.
She smiled a little, like she'd been expecting that answer.
"Wanna walk together?"
This time, I didn't think too hard about it.
"...Sure."
She stood up and stepped into the light just a bit more. That's when I saw her clearly.
And damn.
She was… beautiful. But not in the way that made you stare. More like the kind of beautiful that made you feel like you'd seen her in a dream once, and forgot — until now.
I didn't know what to say, so I didn't say anything.
We started walking. Side by side.
No conversation. No awkwardness.
Just silence. But this time, it didn't feel heavy.
It felt… warm. Easy.
By the time we made it back near our homes, she turned to me.
"Want to explore more tomorrow?" she asked softly.
I smiled.
"Yeah. We can explore a lot."
I went back inside that night and lay on my bed again — but not because I was tired.
This time, I just couldn't stop thinking about her.
Tomorrow can't come soon enough.