"A Heart, Reawakened"

"Seira... how did you know that I'd be here?" 
"I didn't, I've been trying to call you hours you know... it was like you completely dropped of the face of the Earth."

She said with a pouting face,

"Sorry... I had a pretty major bombshell dropped on me, so I just needed some time to myself..."
"Oh, I see... if you want to talk to someone, I'd love to listen to you."

I nodded slowly as I began to tell her about everything.

"So... basically Seira, you know Eika my stepmother? How she's basically made my life a living hell for as long as I can remember."
"Yea, what did she do?"
"So, the reason I had left early was because she had texted me, asking me to come home immediately. I didn't know exactly what to expect from that, but I listened and went straight home. When I got there, she seemed very sad and guilty. After talking for some time with her, she revealed the affair she had with my father while my mother was still alive. At first, I was going to get even more upset with her, but she revealed that while she was dating him back then, she didn't even know of our existence... because he never mentioned it to her or gave her any signals indicating that. The worse part of this whole thing was the way that she even found out about me."

Seira tilted her head slightly to the side.

"How... did she find out about you?"

"When my mother passed away, he had told her that he had a death in the family. She asked him if there was anything she could possibly do to help. But he had told her no, so she just assumed that the family wanted a private funeral or something like that. But she found out about me by listening to some random conversation of the street... I guess the ladies that she overheard, were friends of my mom at some point. When she confronted my father about it, that was when he finally came clean. She told me that the reason that she made my life miserable for all these years, was because she was mad at him. She didn't know how to control her emotions, so I was the target of it all. Every time she looked at me, she was reminded of all the lies that my father told her."

Seira frowned as I told her the story. She kept her arms wrapped around my neck, quietly listening to me speak. As I moved my head up to look at her, she slowly pushed my head back down, so that she could continue resting her head on mine.

"I'm so sorry that you had to go through that Shiro... I want to tell you that you always have a home with me, okay?" 

"What do you mean...?"

"It means that, I want to take care of you. Shiro, you're someone dear to me."

Seira, the girl I had feelings for... was right here comforting me. This made my heart race. She was such a wonderful person; Seira was always here to brighten my day whenever I was down. I want to thank her for everything she's done for me. The only thing that was going through my mind as I was venting to her, was about how much I had come to need her. She was my beacon of hope. Without thinking, I stood up, faced her, and gently grabbed her hands. 

"Seira..."
"Y-Yes? What is it Shiro?"
"I have something to tell you..."
"I'm listening..."

I took breath to mentally prepare myself for what I was about to say.

"Seira... when I first met you, I was just a broken person who had lost faith in the world. But that didn't stop you from coming up to me with that beautiful smile. Do... you remember the first words you ever said to me?"

She nodded her head.

"I remember asking you why you were crying... and then I told you that tears didn't suit you... I had said that because when I first saw you, for some reason I felt drawn to you. I felt like you were different than other people I have met... and you were. All my life, I have been surrounded by people who either automatically hated me or tried to kiss up to me. But with you, you didn't do any of that. I was able to have the first real conversation in a really long time, and I'm forever grateful for that. You gave me what I've wanted ever since I started my dancing career, a real friend... and because of you, I've met so many wonderful people who've wanted to be my friend for real. Not because of who I am, and I owe all of these wonderful experiences I've had these last few weeks to you Shiro... thank you, for being you."

As she said this, we both teared up as we locked eyes with each other. 

"Seira... I had no idea that you felt that way... but, I want to protect you, to make you happy, and to make you feel safe. Those thoughts, they made me realize how I truly felt about you."

She moved slightly closer to me, as she whispered.

"How do you feel about me Shiro?"
"I don't know how to explain it... but whenever I'm around you, I feel like it's only us in the world. I feel so happy whenever we hang out with each other, it makes my heart race. Then... then there's your smile, a smile that can brighten even the darkest of nights. That smile is something that I want to protect with all my heart."

Tears began rushing out her eyes, as her smile widened.

"Shiro... that is the most beautiful thing anyone has ever told me... thank you so much..."

Slowly, both of us inched towards each other. I felt her warm breath as we leaned closer. As both of us closed our eyes, our lips inched closer, finally... I kissed her. As I felt her soft lips against mine, all my pains, my sorrows, all seemed to melt away. The only word that I could use to describe this moment was... magical. As I opened my eyes, I loved the way the moonlight glistened off of her silky hair. She was like an angel that came down from the heavens... an angel put me completely at ease. With Seira, I could completely lower my guard around her and feel safe. As we slowly pulled away, she asked me:

"Shiro... is it okay, if I depend on you... to keep me safe... and to care for me?"
"That is more than okay Seira... I'll protect you no matter what, I promise you."

She then wrapped her arms around me, nuzzling her head into my shoulder. As she did, I softly ran my fingers through her hair, admiring the beautiful girl that was in front of me. 

"Seira... will you... will you go out with me?"

She looked at me with tears in her eyes, she opened her mouth multiple times, but no words came out. After a few more moments of staring at each other, she said to me.

"Yes...Yes... a million times... I will go out with you Shiro..." 

When she said this, it made me the happiest guy alive. Seira was the girl who poured her light into my darkened heart, she showed me what it meant to be alive. 

"Seira... you are the girl who saved my life, and I don't ever think I can ever pay you back for that..."
"That's okay silly... I already have everything I need... right here."

She said as she softly rubbed my cheek. As we once more, kissed each other under the moonlight. I loved the way her lips felt against mine, this was truly... the best feeling I've ever experienced. We were to people, from two different worlds... for Seira, a person who outshined everyone, and I, who was outshined by everyone. But now... we both equally shined for each other. We didn't need other people to help us shine as long as we had each other. This person that was in front of me, was everything I've ever wanted. 

"Thank you... for saving me..."

She smiled and looked at me with her glistening eyes. 

"You already thanked me for that silly... you don't have to thank me for anything else, okay? As long as you pay me back by staying by my side."
"Of course, Seira... I'll always stay by your side, through the deepest valleys of hell, and through the highest mountains in the heavens, I'll be right there... right by your side."

She was truly, a star in the night sky... in fact, she was the brightest star of them all. A star that showed me how to shine, just like her...