Lantern of Love

Aisha loved the night sky. Every evening, she sat on the old balcony of her family’s house, watching the stars glitter above the quiet town. One night, as she leaned on the railing, she noticed someone standing on the rooftop across from her—someone who seemed to be doing the same thing.

It was Zayan.

They had gone to the same school for years, barely speaking, always crossing paths but never truly meeting. But tonight, when he looked up and their eyes met, he gave a small, shy wave. Aisha felt a warm flutter in her chest.

The next evening, she saw him again.
And the next.
And the next.

Soon, waving turned into little notes written on paper airplanes.
“What’s your favorite star?”
“Do you like music?”
“Can I draw you?”

One evening, he sent over a paper airplane that simply said:
“Come to the rooftop.”

With her heart racing, she climbed the stairs to his building. When she reached the top, she found Zayan standing there with a small lantern, the soft glow lighting his smile.

“I wanted to see you without distance,” he said.

They talked for hours while the stars listened silently above them—about dreams, fears, favorite books, embarrassing stories. And when the night began to fade, Aisha realized she didn’t want to leave.

Before she left, Zayan gently handed her a folded paper. “Open it when you get home.”

From her balcony, she unfolded the note. Inside was a simple sentence:

“I think my favorite star is the one I saw in your eyes.”

Aisha pressed the note to her heart, smiling into the night.

And across the rooftop, Zayan smiled back—
Two hearts connected under the same sky.