Friday Night

She and Avery pulled the loveseat to the window and sat in silence, staring up at the sky. The colors were so vivid it looked like the saturation had been turned to max. The lights flowed like waves on the shore of a beach. Somewhere far away, Sunil was looking up at the same lights. He was far, but for a moment he felt close. They are all connected, even across the distance of the sky.

The night air was cool. Mateo hadn't said a word. Neither had he. The porch steps were cold beneath him. For the first time the letter in his pocket felt light. The dancing lights had taken the weight and released it into the sky. After the tournament he would do what the lights were doing. He would release the letter to Avery.

The violet lights bounced through the sky like a private reprieve. Jonah was watching too, but she kept her eyes on the sky. People stood in the streets with cameras pointed upward, staring through screens when the real thing was right in front of them. The lights were layered, supporting each other in their grand show. She was not required to support them. The universe was doing that for her. And she let it.

Ryan was awestruck. He hadn't said a word for four minutes. The orange of the lights reminded her of her clipboard, and she almost ran to grab it to double-check the tournament. She didn't. Sloane should be here. The lights didn't demand paperwork. They didn't demand her control. They just are. And she just is.