A Step Ahead

As we strolled through the park again, the towering Ferris wheel caught our attention next. Its colorful gondolas swayed gently in the breeze, offering a stunning view of the entire park and its surroundings. The line moved surprisingly quickly, and soon we were climbing into one of the gondolas. John sat beside Adica, and Emma squeezed in next to her. I ended up on the opposite side. I'm not quite good with heights, so my nerves all got buzzing.

As the Ferris wheel ascended, the view became more breathtaking with each passing moment. The park zoomed out beneath, while the horizon kept tapering out along the edges in flow with the sea of colorful lights and joyful screams. The scenery was truly amazing. When we finally reached the peak, we were treated with what they said to be the best view you could get of the town. But my mind was far from the scenery. My eyes were zoning in and out while looking at Adica, Emma and John huddling close, all while everything John had told me a while ago playing on repeat. My throat felt dry... the air had gotten really heavy, even though there seemed to be enough ventilation in the gondola. I just tried to glue my eyes towards the scenery and towards my thoughts as we descended in silence.

With the fireworks show still a little while away, we made the most of our time by squeezing in a few more rides. The last attraction on our list was the colossal roller coaster that dominated the park skyline. The thing's just huge... like the ones you'd see in the amusement parks in big cities. You'd have to turn your head an entire ninety degrees to see the entire towering structure.

"John, are you absolutely certain about this?" Adica's nerves were apparent as she continued to study the imposing ride. In contrast, John wore a confident grin. "Don't worry, Adica. It's totally safe. It's going to be a blast!"

Emma and I just stared at each other. My nerves were on the verge of meltdown, but stealing a glance at Emma, I realized I wasn't alone in my fear. Her eyes, usually so full of confidence, were wide with apprehension. She tried to muster a reassuring smile, but anyone could see the fear in her gaze. It was as if we were two sides of the same coin.

We climbed into the coaster's cars, and as the safety harnesses clicked into place, Adica's grip on the safety bar tightened. Her knuckles turned white, and she swallowed hard. The coaster roared to life, slowly ascending the steep incline.

As we reached the summit, the view from the top was breathtaking. We could see the entire amusement park and, in the distance, the stage where the fireworks would soon light up the night sky. For a second, and just a second, my fears seemed to melt away as I marveled at the sight.

Then, with a sudden, heart-pounding drop, we were hurtling down the coaster's tracks. The wind whipped through our hair as we screamed and laughed and screamed even louder, as if all my fears were coursing through me like an electric shock, and every twist and turn of the ride sent my heart into a frenzy. With every stomach-flipping drop, I could feel my insides pressed inwards in a nauseating swirl of discomfort. As we finally pulled back into the station, my shaky hands released their death grip on the safety bar, and I stumbled off the ride, legs wobbly and weak. Emma seemed to be on the same page as I am, while Adica and John were grinning from ear to ear. "That was amazing! Shall we go for another round?" John proposed, but Emma and I instantly rejected.

"Nope."

"Not a chance."

We both sighed. I'm never getting on that thing again!

After the sun went away, it became nighttime. The sky turned dark, and the stars came out, like tiny dots in the sky. The moon was like a shiny ball, making everything look brighter. It was quiet, and you could hear the trees moving a little bit. Bugs like crickets and frogs started making sounds, like a song they all sang together. And it also meant that finally, the time for the fireworks show drew near. We found a spot in the open area, joining the growing crowd that had gathered and finding spots on the grass to sit and gaze up at the night sky. 

As we settled down, Emma couldn't contain her excitement any longer. She fidgeted in her spot, her eyes constantly darting towards the darkening sky. Her fingers were hovering above, as if drawing imaginary constellations in the sky. Now that I think.

"I can't wait for the fireworks," she bubbled, her voice filled with childlike wonder. Emma's hands danced in the air as if she could already see the colorful bursts of light painting the night.

Then in an instant, the first burst of colorful fireworks traced its path upward and erupted above us, accompanied by gasps and cheers from the audience. They made the sky look bright and beautiful. Some were red, some were blue, and others were green, like shining stars. The fireworks flew high and left a sparkling trail behind them, like shooting stars. They made loud sounds, like pops and booms, and filled the air with excitement. Different fireworks lit up the sky in different ways. Some looked like flowers opening up, and others were like waterfalls of light.

But the delight of enjoying it fell short, as John gave me the signal to get in action. I hadn't come up with a plan meanwhile though, so I was betting on luck to get me through. I leaned closer to her, keeping my voice enough loud for her to hear only. "Emma, can I talk to you for a moment?"

Her attention snapped to me from the fireworks. "A moment? But I'm enjoying the fireworks right now!"

"It's something... important." 

It felt like I was just echoing John's earlier words.

Emma studied my face, searching for any hints of what was to come. "Important? Alright, just make it fast."

"It's really loud here. Let's get somewhere else!"

"But I can hear you though."

I had no particular destination in mind; I just needed some distance from the impending confession. "Let's just walk a bit away from here. You can still enjoy the fireworks from a different angle."

Emma agreed, and we quietly slipped away from the crowd. The fireworks continued to light up the sky. Emma and I found a quieter spot near a small pond, where the reflections of the fireworks danced on the water's surface. As soon as we reached there, away from all the noise and everything, Emma's eyes turned to me, reflecting the kaleidoscope of colors from nearby neon signs. Her lips, adorned with a ready smile just a moment ago, were now pressed together in a puzzled frown.

I took a deep breath. At first, I was just planning on buying time for John. But Emma deserved the truth as much as anyone else, and I knew I had to tell her everything. "It's about John," I began, feeling a lump in my throat growing with each word coming through, "the reason he asked me to bring you here tonight..."

"What about John?"

It was hard then I'd expected, telling her the truth. As if my words were stumbling upon something right when they were about to come out. "Reol, what's wrong?"

"John was actually planning to confess his feelings to Adica during the fireworks show. And that's why he told me to take you with me away from the two of them."

Emma's expression transformed from confusion to a mixture of surprise and worry. Her gaze never left mine, and I could sense her heart racing, matching the rapid bursts of light in the sky. "John wants to what?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly. "What are even saying, Reol?"

It was as though the very universe had paused to listen to our conversation, and now it awaited her response. Emma's breath caught, suspended in the air like a fragile wisp of cloud. Emma's gaze fell to the ground, as if her emotions were whisking beneath the surface.

I extended my hand, reaching for her shoulder in an attempt to offer some solace but she gently pushed it away. "Is he kidding with us? Just how much does he even understand her? What does he think of himself?" Her eyes were back towards me, reflecting the same bright lights, flickering between shades of surprise, pain, and a hint of something else, something I couldn't quite grasp. "I need to talk to John..." As she said, her steps began to carry her back toward where John and Adica stood. I hurriedly closed the distance between us and gently reached out, placing my hand on her arm to stop her.

"Emma, please wait."

"Reol, I need to... I need to talk to John."

I tightened my grip slightly, holding her back. "I know, Emma. But maybe not right now."

"Tell me, Reol, do you want it too? It means that we won't get to spend time like these together anymore! Do you really want things to end like this?"

"No, I wouldn't want that... is what I want to say... but that would be selfish from me." My hand swept through the air. "Because then it means that all I'm thinking of is about myself." I lowered my hand, eyes struck back on Emma's. "Emma, it's Adica's choice. You and I don't have any say in this..."

"But... it's not..."

Emma's voice faded, as she held onto my hand with a tight grip. The weight of the situation pressed down on us both, a burden all too heavy to bear. As the final bursts of color illuminated the sky together, the fireworks show concluded, and the brilliant hues slowly dissolved into the dark night sky.

As I made my way home that day, my heart was heavy, and ugly tears streamed down my face. Even after everything I told Emma, it's just... I can't... I can't shake this overwhelming sense, that something precious was slipping away, gradually fading into mere memories. And even if I don't forget the loneliness and sorrow that tore me apart...the memories themselves are fading, too. No matter how much I try to hold on...no matter how many times I swear it to myself, no... time just continues its relentless march, erasing them bit by bit. It felt like a cruel twist of fate... which I couldn't come to accept.