The Space We Shared

She had never met anyone who loved the stars as much as she did.

Then came the stranger.

They collided at the observatory, both reaching for the same telescope.

“Go ahead,” he offered.

She hesitated. “We could share.”

They stood close, whispering about galaxies, their hands brushing as they adjusted the lens. The dome around them hummed with quiet machinery, other visitors having long since departed for warmer places.

“That’s Andromeda,” she pointed, her breath visible in the cold air.

“Beautiful,” he murmured, though his gaze had shifted.

By the time the evening ended, she was no longer just looking at the stars.

She was looking at him.