Beneath the Starry Sky

2020. What a year. My boyfriend broke up with me, I lost my job, and I was quarantined within a foreign city where I didn't know anyone. Mum passed away when I was young and dad was busy with his new family. So I didn't have anyone to talk to.

It was great!

God, how I'd longed for some alone time and now I have an actual excuse! No more, "Sorry, I have laundry" or "I have to take my dog to the vets". I don't even have a dog! This quarantine was the best thing to happen in years!

However, that was all about to change.

One evening, I was eating ice cream for the third meal in a row, boysenberry with a Monte Carlo crumble, when I heard fluttering coming from the air vent.

Like a meerkat on high alert, my head whipped towards the vent - mind wandering. Was it the ventilation? Ghost? Demon?! Moth?! God I hope it was a demon and not some ghoulish entity trying to steal my soul.

Spoon in mouth, I cautiously crawled over my couch like Golem and made my way over to the steel contraption. Peeking through the grates was a folded piece of paper. Having seen Annabelle, I wasn't in the mood to invite malicious entities to latch onto my soul, so I pawed at the note with the spoon until it fell out onto the floor. The note was folded. Darn it. Enter trusty spoon.

Hello :)

Was all that was written on the page. A chill ran down my spine. The note was written in biro and not the stationary of the dammed - crayon. That meant it was a correspondence from the outside world.

My stomach churned with the thought of having to interact with another human being. I laid out my options. I could:

1. Burn the note and never mention it again,

2. Be responsible and respond,

Those two could spell trouble. I mean I was not about to become a cliché and respond to a potential serial killer. Nuh-uh. Not this gal. And with the lock-down, there was possibly no fire fighters. So setting a fire in my apartment was not ideal.

So, I did what any responsible 27 year old would do.

3. Left the note alone and walked away.

Three days passed when another note came. This time, signed. It read:

Hi,

How are you?

- Michael

Michael, please, I just want to be left alone.

I had barely finished the thought when another note came fluttering through the vent.

P.S.

Sorry about my previous note. Hope it didn't freak you out.

- Michael

From his mannerism, Michael didn't seem like a bad guy. So I decided to be an adult and reply.

Michael,

Thank you for the notes and you seem like a nice guy. 2020 hasn't been kind to me and I just want to enjoy this time alone. I hope you understand.

- Eva

I then folded the note and slipped it into the vent. Fingers crossed Michael wouldn't be offended.

I enjoyed being alone and I have Netflix and Disney+ to entertain me. Plus I had a freezer full of frozen pizza and ice cream. Plus a pantry full of cookies.

Later that evening, I received another note. It read:

Hi Eva,

I'm sorry to hear that 2020 hasn't been kind to you. I mean, it's only been a few days but this quarantine has already gotten the better of me. Sure we have phones, television, and the internet to entertain us but I just feel alone in my little corner of the world.

I understand if you don't feel like chatting.

- Michael

He understands! Back to binging Netflix.

However, his words "I just feel alone..." stirred something within me. I mean, in this quarantine some of us are alone - isolated in our homes from one another.

That night, as I tried to fall asleep, Michael's words echoed within my mind. There wasn't anything special about them so why did they strike a chord with me? Unable to sleep, I grabbed a pen and paper and wrote Michael a reply.

Michael,

You said you "felt alone". These words have been on my mind since this afternoon. What does that feel like? I mean, sure, I've been alone but I don't know if I've ever felt alone.

- Eva

I wanted to stay up, and wait for a reply, but it was 2am - Michael would be asleep. As I was heading back to bed, I heard a familiar flutter in my vent. Michael was awake. I rushed over and retrieved the note.

Hi Eva,

It's nice to know that you've never felt alone. It shows that you're surrounded by people who love you.

You asked me what it feels like to feel alone. The best way I can describe it is an emptiness in your chest that seems to sink into your stomach. You feel like crying but aren't sure why.

I hope that answers your question.

- Michael

That was why his words had struck a chord with me. I had been feeling alone.

How long had I felt this way? When I moved? When I left home? When dad got remarried? After mum died? I had probably felt alone this entire time and here I was chastising Michael for feeling the same way I felt. I wrote him back, apologising. Thankfully, Michael forgave me and we started passing notes through that vent.

I learnt that Michael has a cat and feels the need to update me about him. I didn't mind because his cat was a chonky boy called Dumpling. I also found out that he is an avid astronomer and has a telescope. He's admitted to spying on his neighbours once or twice but prefers to look at the stars and planets. He even invited me to go stargazing with him at one point. I obviously agreed and called it a date.

After a while, we started sending photos. From his pictures, Michael has dark, scruffy and curly hair, the thickest glasses I have ever seen, and the biggest grin in the entire world. My response was a photo of me in an oversized jumper, trackies, and a messy half bun. Michael had the audacity to say I looked decent. Please, I looked fabulous in my home quarantine look.

In the time we had been passing notes, we'd become great friends.

Finally, the appointed day came when we would finally meet face to face. March 28th. Earth Hour. The one day a year where the city would be blanketed in complete darkness. Plus, the lockdown made it difficult going anywhere.

Michael had invited me to the apartment building roof because the view was extravagant. As I made my way to the rooftop, my heart began to pound loudly in my chest. Why was I nervous? I had known Michael for nearly 2 months, so why was I feeling this way?

Reaching the door to the roof, I pushed it open. The first thing I saw were the fairy lights that zigzagged above me - they looked like stars against the sparse velvet sky. I followed them with my gaze until I saw Michael. Michael was leaning against the railing that encompassed the roof - staring wistfully into the city. He was slightly taller than I had imagined yet familiar and calming.

We both smiled when he finally noticed me. Making his way over, Michael gave me a hug. He was warm and smelled like soap and baby powder.

"It's nice to finally meet you." I softly noted as we broke our embrace.

I then noticed the fading smile on Michael's face. This worried me. Was this a trap? Was Michael a serial killer? Was my life about to end?! Michael! How could you betray me like this!

I took a step back. Michael noticed and gave me an awkward smiled. This slowly faded as he handed me a folded piece of paper. It was another note.

Hesitantly, I took the note and read it.

Hi Eva,

It's great to finally meet you. Tonight will be amazing! I just know it.

However, I'm sorry I haven't said anything. The truth is, I can't. I lost my voice when I was young. I can still hear you, I just won't be able to respond immediately.

- Michael

Phew. Not a serial killer. Maybe. I looked up from his note and responded with a half smile. Michael smiled back and held up a notebook and pen. I couldn't help but chuckle. He was well prepared. Seeing me smile, Michael flashed his world renowned grin. It was then I felt the butterflies again.

I looked around, noticing a picnic basket of nibbles, a bottle of wine, and a couple of blankets. Was this a date? Oh god I forgot I called it a date! Did I send Michael the wrong message? Did I even care? I mean, here I am with a sweet guy who planned everything this evening.

Wait. Date? Butterflies?! I felt my hands. Clammy! Oh my god I think I had feelings for Michael. I squeaked when I realised. Michael heard me and gave me an inquisitive look.

"Hiccups!" I noted. Brushing off any suspicion.

Michael laid out a blanket for us to sit on. We sat there watching the city lights in the distance. We were living a cliché but I didn't care. Being here with him I felt so calm yet bewildered. Nervous yet ecstatic.

At 8:27pm Michael laid down. He looked at me and smiled as if to say "You lie down too". I followed his lead and laid down as Michael turned off the fairy lights. As the minutes ticked down the lights from the city began to fade.

Like the setting sun ushering in the velvet night, so too did the fading of the city lights. I was speechless as the river of stars filled the velvet darkness of night.

For an hour we lay there in silence, watching the world slowly turn. From time to time Michael would pass a note with a celestial body and pointed. With my finger he traced the constellations that watched us from the heavens. This was better than any dream date.

When Earth Hour was over we stayed on the roof - writing little notes to each other and drawing on Michael's notebook. By the time we headed back to our apartments, we'd had a glass, or three, of Merlot and were slightly inebriated.

Michael walked me to my door.

"I had fun tonight" I began, breaking the silence.

"Me too!" Michael scribbled. Michael gave me a sleepy smile before heading back to his apartment.

"Michael!" I blurted in my slightly intoxicated stupor. "Before you go..." I pulled him in and kissed him on the cheek.

He blushed. I blushed. And for the longest time we stood there in silence.

Remembering Michael is mute I say "Okay! Good night!" and slamming the door in his face.

What was I doing? I was acting like a schoolgirl with a crush. Was it the alcohol?! God I could feel my cheeks turning red. On top of that, I slammed the door in his face! Ugh!

It was then I heard the familiar sound of fluttering paper. It was a note from Michael.

I had fun tonight. Can I see you again?

I grabbed a pen and paper and scrawled,

Yes! Definitely!