A romantic night

The city lights glittered faintly in the distance, but the rooftop garden was quiet, tucked away from the hum of traffic. A soft breeze carried the fragrance of jasmine and lavender, brushing against Elena’s skin as she stepped onto the terrace. She paused, her breath catching at the sight before her. Strings of fairy lights draped across the railing, tiny stars woven into the night. A small table sat at the center, set with two plates, candles glowing warmly between them.

She turned and found Daniel standing a few steps behind, hands tucked nervously in his pockets. “Surprise,” he said, his voice uncertain but full of hope.

Elena’s lips curved into a smile. “It’s beautiful.”

Relief flickered across his face. He guided her to the table, pulling out a chair with an old-fashioned politeness that always made her heart soften. They sat, and for a moment, neither spoke. The air was filled with the gentle crackle of candles and the distant hum of the city below.

“Do you remember the first time we came up here?” Daniel asked finally, pouring her a glass of sparkling cider.

She laughed, the sound soft and wistful. “How could I forget? You tried to impress me by climbing over the fence, and you tore your jacket.”

His ears flushed pink. “I was trying to be charming.”

“You were,” Elena teased. “Just… in a clumsy way.”

They shared a laugh, the kind that pulled them closer, reminding them of the many nights they had spent in each other’s company. The meal was simple—pasta, fresh bread, and strawberries for dessert—but to Elena it felt extravagant, because he had made it all himself. She could see the nervous energy in the way he waited for her reaction, the way his eyes searched hers when she took her first bite.

“It’s delicious,” she said sincerely.

Daniel exhaled as though he had been holding his breath all evening. “Good. I was afraid I’d burn everything.”

They ate slowly, savoring not only the food but the presence of each other. Between bites, they spoke of little things—the book she was reading, the project he was finishing at work, the places they dreamed of traveling one day. Time seemed to stretch, as though the night itself was reluctant to move forward.

When the plates were cleared and the candles burned lower, Daniel stood and extended his hand. “Dance with me?”

Elena blinked. “There’s no music.”

“There doesn’t have to be.”

She hesitated for only a moment before slipping her hand into his. He drew her close, one hand resting gently at her waist, the other holding hers against his chest. They swayed slowly, guided not by rhythm but by the simple pulse of their hearts. The night sky stretched above them, wide and endless, and the fairy lights flickered like constellations brought down to earth.

Elena closed her eyes and rested her head against his shoulder. “I don’t think I’ve ever felt this content,” she whispered.

Daniel’s hand tightened around hers. “That’s all I wanted—for you to feel that.”

Silence settled over them, not awkward but deep, a language in itself. The world outside the rooftop seemed to disappear, leaving only the two of them, wrapped in a fragile, glowing moment.

When she lifted her head to look at him, his gaze was steady, filled with a tenderness that made her chest ache. Slowly, almost shyly, he brushed a strand of hair from her face. His thumb lingered at her cheek.

“Elena,” he murmured, “there’s something I’ve wanted to tell you.”

Her heart quickened. “What is it?”

He took a breath, gathering courage. “I love you. I think I’ve loved you for longer than I even realized. Tonight, I just… I needed you to know.”

The rooftop fell into stillness. Elena felt her throat tighten, emotions tumbling inside her. She could see how much it cost him to bare himself like this, how vulnerable he looked beneath the soft glow of the lights.

She lifted her hand and placed it against his cheek. “Daniel,” she said softly, “I love you too. I think I always have.”

Relief and joy broke across his face in a smile so bright it rivaled the lights around them. He leaned in, and their lips met, gentle at first, then deeper, carrying every unspoken word, every memory, every promise.

The night air grew cooler, but neither noticed. Wrapped in each other’s arms, they stayed beneath the endless sky, two souls bound by love, the rooftop garden transformed into their own private universe.