He gets up, grabs his guitar and, looking at her intently, sits back down.

“This song is for the lovely Maya whose eyes are like the ocean.”

I try not to gag. Never liked the guy.

She smiles but is obviously embarrassed.

He starts playing ‘Can’t Help Falling In Love’—terribly cliché but that’s what he does for a living after all. She doesn’t seem impressed, which is all I care about.

As he’s singing, she lifts her eyes and looks at the fire.

I can’t help… looking at her.

My God, she’s beautiful.

What am I doing? What am I doing? I should just leave.

If she needs a place to stay for the night, I will give her the inn’s address. She knows it already; it’s where she changed earlier.

I should just go.

Daniel’s phone vibrates. I didn’t even realize she was texting, I was so in my head.

Please don’t take this the wrong way… Is it strange if I say I wish you were here? I don’t know you, but you are the reason for this wonderful day and although I’m not alone and I’m not even lonely—surprisingly for me—I would’ve loved to share all these amazing things with… with the person who made it all possible.

I stare at the text and instead of making me go to her and tell her the truth, it freezes me in place. I don’t know what to do or how to answer that. ‘I am here.’ That’s what I want to say, but I don’t.

I don’t know if it’s seconds or minutes, but I keep looking at her and she keeps looking at the phone. Her expression changes gradually to a serious, almost sad one.

I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you feel awkward. It’s just that nobody has ever done anything this nice for me and I’m a bit woozy from all this wine and beer. Been drinking quite a lot at the bonfire. I just meant that I’m grateful, that’s all. It would be totally strange if you were here. We don’t even know each other. Please ignore what I said.

And I ruined it. Of course I did. It’s a talent.

I continue watching her. She’s sad and disappointed. I bet she’s beating herself up for her text. And I know very well she hasn’t been drinking anything except for hot cocoa.

It’s not strange at all and I don’t feel awkward. I wish I was there with you too.

I almost hit send. It’s a lie, isn’t it? I am lying to her.

I delete and restart. I don’t want to lie to her.

Not strange or awkward. I wish I was next to you at the bonfire too.

That’s not a lie. I do wish I could be next to her. I’m close, but not as close as I want to be.

I see her checking her phone a few times. Has she not read my text? The expression on her face doesn’t change. I blew it, like an idiot.