Under the Stars

Your name is Elian. You are a female guide with a top compatibility percentage. You are in love. You married the person you love. You are happy. Only you. Night has fallen when you hear the rain whispered to a somber lullaby, painting the evening with a muted palette of gray, as your solitary breathing echoed in the quiet living room, carrying the weight of unspoken sorrows. Across you is the cake, adorned with a solitary candle serving as your light in the darkness, casting soft glow around the room. The cake is moist and fluffy, rich with layers of flavor. The candle atop was already melted. As it burns, the buttercream begins to char, releasing a tantalizing aroma that mixes with the sweet scent of vanilla and warm cake. And you watch in silence as the small light flickers and fades, as though you’re waiting, offering the last chance, a silent plea for it to endure. But as expected, your husband didn’t come home. Your tears started to fall, you tried to stop by blinking but tears kept falling and blurring your eyes. You were in daze, allowing your tears to flow an unusual calmness, as if you were detached, as though the one shedding tears wasn’t truly you. The candle, spent and alone, its wick extinguished, reflects the solemn stillness within you. For a moment, you remained motionless, absorbing the steady stream of information flooding your senses. And when you’re ready, your eyes blink and start to focus. You took a deep breath and gently brushed away your tears. You noticed your handbag on your right and the coat you never took out of your shoulder when you got home. It's like you knew this is not your home anymore. You look around looking for something… something more familiar. Your eyes stop at the moving picture of you and your husband. It was your wedding photo, projected to the wall. In the moving picture, you wore a white gown. It was tailored to fit you, combined with the alcea flowers and rare gems from another star. You were so beautiful. Next to you is your husband, your arms are locked together. You are smiling. You’re leaning your head to his broad shoulder as you look at the camera with a content smile on your face. While your husband is with his usual difficult to read expression. The next second you blush, probably from what the people behind the camera had said. You look towards your husband in anticipation, but you can’t wait any longer, and you probably tiptoed just to kiss his cheeks. He’s a head taller even in your high heels. And the moving picture started its another loop, from when you are looking at the camera to your eyes filled with happiness. You look so much better in that moment. Later, you realized it wasn’t a happy ending. [ding] A sound of notification was heard in front of you. You didn’t notice the high technology screen next to the cake because it was transparent. The screen flashes and the sleeping display lit up. You saw something about the medical result in the pop up notification bar. But your attention was on the document on the main display, a copy of your divorce agreement. It reminds you of what you’re supposed to do. You are to sign the agreement. You raise your fourth finger, looking at your glimmering wedding ring. Immediately, memories from Elian rushes to your mind. You have been married for 2 years. Today is your anniversary, that’s why the cake. In the early years of your marriage you were excited , you were glowing with happiness. Even though the war broke on the night of your wedding you were still happy. Until 3 months. The excitement turns to worry because your husband, that was called that night didn’t come home, until that 3 months later. When he finally came home, he was on the verge of madness and needed the help of your spirit guide. The anticipation becomes nervous, then anxiousness. And the realization that he only needed to calm his raging spirit so that he can function again. You thought something would change but somehow from the beginning to this end, it was all the same. He wouldn't come home tonight. That's what the message said. He didn’t send it, obviously, someone else did. Heck, he barely comes home, he can’t even send you a message. You forgot when was the last time you saw him. Probably a month ago? You’re not sure anymore. You can’t remember. There’s a rumor going around, that your husband saved a top Grade Guide and has a compatibility of 89%. Compared to your merely 82% that guide has more potential than any other guide that ever existed. At first you don’t care but as the time passes, it gets exaggerated. At first the rumor is about the guide who has 89% compatibility and then your husband and that guide was often seen together, later the rumor pointed at you. The worst thing is that your husband doesn’t seem to care. Maybe this is for the best, you thought. You didn't know who the wife is, or who the mistress was. Oftentimes you were left alone, either he‘s too busy he cannot go home or busy ignoring your existence. Although you have some memories you cherished, right now you were feeling lonely. At this moment, you were left alone in the house. The house is gifted to you by your parents for your marriage. Today is your wedding anniversary. He promised to come home or even contact you. He did but you knew it wasn’t him, he would’ve called you. He likes to call you, one of the things you cherished. Knowing that he likes to hear from you. But today is different. Today is already yesterday and tomorrow is today. It’s time for you to move on and forget about him. With a gesture, you activate the display, your fingers dancing through the air to navigate the virtual interface. With precision, you selected the designated areas, each touch sending a signal through the encrypted network, confirming your intent. As the biometric scanner verified your identity, the digital signature emerged in a cascade of light, a testament to the seamless integration of advanced technology into the realm of legal proceedings. In that moment, amidst the glow of the display, you felt a mix of relief and sorrow, knowing that while the process may have been streamlined, the emotional weight of your decision remained unchanged. That night you signed the divorce paper and never looked back. At that time you knew that someone was looking at you. You let that person watch you from the beginning to end, because it's for later.