-• THE NIGHT•-

TARA (AGE 10)

Soft hands stroke my hair, and a familiar warmth spreads through my chest.

I know this feeling.

I know these hands.

They're familiar yet unfamiliar—like a dream I almost remember but can’t quite grasp.

My eyes flutter open, adjusting to the dim light, and for a second, I wonder if I’m still dreaming.

Because right in front of me is an angel—a boy with the prettiest brown eyes I’ve ever seen.

I stare at him, my head still foggy.

"Hey, you okay?" The angel asks, his voice soft as he continues stroking my hair.

I blink a few times, trying to see if he’s real or if my mind is playing tricks on me.

His eyes are so big and warm, like melted chocolate.

"Your eyes are so pretty." I smile sleepily.

He chuckles, tilting his head slightly.

"Who are you, angel?" I ask, my voice small.

"I'm Veer. We talked a few days ago, remember?"

Veer.

I do remember.

We met at my birthday party. He was wearing a blue sweater, and he laughed at one of my jokes. But why is he here now?

Then it hits me.

I try to sit up, but—thud!

"Ow!" I wince, rubbing the top of my head.

I look around, confused.

"Where am I?" My voice is scratchy, like I’ve been crying.

Veer watches me, his eyes full of something soft and careful.

"I came to get water and saw you lying on the floor, shivering and crying. Are you all right?"

Shivering?

Crying?

I suddenly feel cold, my whole body curling in on itself.

And then—

It all rushes back.

Dad.

Dad is gone.

Tears blur my vision, my throat tightening like something is stuck there.

Dad, please come back.

I try to stop, try to be strong, but my face is already wet, and my chest hurts so much.

Tears spill down my cheeks as I sniffle.

"Hey, please don't cry." Veer sounds panicked now, his hands hovering near me like he doesn’t know what to do.

"Why are you crying again?"

I try to speak, but the words come out in broken pieces.

"My D-da-d, he i-s n-not com-in-g back." I hiccup between sobs, my whole body trembling.

"I wa-s going to—going to find him. Please tell hi-m to—to come back. Plea-se."

Veer looks startled, his face twisting like he wants to fix everything but doesn’t know how.

Instead, he does the only thing he can—

He opens his arms and pulls me into a hug.

His arms are warm and strong, wrapping around me tightly.

I clutch onto him, burying my face in his shoulder, my small fingers gripping his t-shirt like it’s the only thing keeping me from falling apart.

He starts rubbing my back, his touch gentle.

"Calm down, sweetheart. You know that your dad loves you, right? He won’t be happy seeing you cry like this. Hm?"

His voice is so soft, like a lullaby.

I shake my head against his shoulder, still hiccuping.

"T-then tell—tell him to—to come back. Please."

My voice cracks, and it makes my heart hurt even more.

Veer takes a deep breath before speaking.

"I can’t do that, sweetie."

I pull away slightly, looking up at him, my eyes searching for an answer.

"Why not?"

His lips press together for a second, like he’s trying to find the right words.

"Your dad has gone to a better place, and he will not come back because everyone loves him there."

I stare at him, my little hands trembling.

"But I love him too."

I argue, sniffling.

"And he told me he will never leave me. Then why did he do that?"

Veer’s brown eyes turn sad, like he understands.

"Something’s not in our hands, Tara. He has gone to God, and God loves him. God will keep him safe so that you will not be worried about him."

God?

I frown, my little brain trying to process his words.

"But—" I open my mouth to say more, but Veer cuts me off gently.

"You miss him, right?"

I nod slowly, wiping my wet cheeks with the back of my hand.

Veer suddenly pulls away, grabbing my hand.

"Come with me."

I blink in confusion as he starts dragging me along.

"Where?"

"Just come."

I let him pull me, my tiny feet pattering against the cold floor as we move.

We walk through the quiet corridors, our shadows stretching under the dim lights. The stairs creak as we climb higher and higher.

Until—

We reach the terrace.

The air is cool against my tear-streaked face, and the world looks so big from up here.

I frown, looking around.

"Why did you bring me here?"

I ask, hugging myself.

Veer doesn’t answer immediately. Instead, he tilts his head up, looking at the sky.

"Because you said you missed your dad," he finally says. "So I brought you here to meet him."

I freeze.

My heart races.

I stare at him, hope flickering inside me.

"Where is he?"

Is Dad alive?

Did he come back?

Was this all just a bad dream?

Veer smiles and points at the sky.

"There."

I follow his finger, tilting my head up.

The sky stretches above us, full of twinkling stars and a half-moon glowing softly.

It’s so pretty.

But I don’t understand.

I frown.

"What are you? Five?" I ask, crossing my arms.

These adults really need to put more effort into fooling us.

Veer blinks, looking a little offended.

"What?"

"People tell these stories to nursery kids." I huff. "I’m ten, not a baby anymore. Please say something realistic."

Veer gapes at me, then lets out a soft laugh, shaking his head.

"I—I was trying to console you." He sighs. "And you are still a kid. Stop trying to be a big girl."

I pout, looking away.

"It’s okay to cry and miss your father," Veer continues, his voice gentle again. "It’s okay to believe they are always with us, even if they are not."

He takes my hand and guides me down, and we sit on the floor.

The wind whispers around us, rustling my hair.

"Sometimes," he says, staring at the stars, "believing in something unrealistic gives us happiness. So it’s okay to believe."

I watch him, his face calm and so sure.

"Will you be happy if your father is really watching you from heaven?"

I nod, wiping the last of my tears.

"Then believe it."

I stare at him, feeling warm for the first time tonight.

He’s so kind.

So calm.

So…special.

I suddenly grin at him.

"Will you be my friend?"

His whole face lights up like the moon.

"Of course," he says, grinning like a Cheshire Cat. "I would love to be your friend."

And that day, I decided—

I’ll forever be his friend.