Under the same stars

Episode 2

---

Episode 2: Rooftop Revelations

As they talked, the night stretched on around them, the stars above twinkling in silent approval of their newfound connection. And as they watched the city come alive beneath them, Emily and Liam knew that their chance encounter on the rooftop was just the beginning of an extraordinary journey—one that would change their lives forever.

Emily's cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she frantically tried to salvage her painting. "It's fine," she replied, her voice tinged with mortification. "I'm just... I'm sorry about your suit."

The man waved off her apology with a dismissive gesture. "Don't worry about it. It's just a suit," he said, his smile widening. "Besides, it's not every day I get to meet a fellow rooftop enthusiast."

Emily couldn't help but smile at his easygoing demeanor. Despite the mishap, there was something undeniably charming about the stranger standing before her. "I'm Emily," she said, extending her hand in greeting.

"Liam," he replied, taking her hand in his with a firm grip. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Emily."

As they shook hands, Emily noticed how warm and reassuring Liam's touch felt. She took a deep breath, willing herself to calm down. "So, what brings you up here?" she asked, gesturing to the rooftop around them.

Liam shrugged, a playful glint in his eyes. "Just needed a break from the chaos down below," he said. "Sometimes, it's nice to escape to a place where you can see the stars."

Emily nodded in agreement, a wistful smile crossing her lips. "I know what you mean. The city can be overwhelming sometimes. But up here, it's like a different world."

Liam glanced at her painting, now smeared with paint. "It’s a beautiful view," he said, nodding towards the horizon. "Do you come up here often to paint?"

Emily sighed, looking at her ruined artwork. "Whenever I need inspiration or just some peace. It's my sanctuary in the middle of all the noise."

Liam took a seat on a nearby bench, patting the space next to him. "Mind if I join you for a while?"

Emily hesitated for a moment, then joined him, feeling an unexpected sense of comfort in his presence. They sat in silence for a few moments, watching the city lights twinkle below them.

"I used to come up here with my sketchbook," Liam said after a while, breaking the silence. "But life got busy, and I sort of forgot how calming it could be."

Emily turned to him, intrigued. "You sketch?"

Liam nodded. "I studied architecture in college. I loved drawing buildings, imagining how they’d look, how people would interact with them. But now I mostly deal with the business side of things."

"Architecture, huh?" Emily said, her interest piqued. "That’s amazing. I always thought architects were like artists, but with a different medium."

"That’s one way to look at it," Liam agreed. "There’s an art to designing spaces that people will live and work in. It’s about creating something beautiful and functional."

As the conversation flowed, Emily felt her initial apprehension melt away. She found herself laughing at Liam’s stories about his college days and sharing her own tales of struggling to find her artistic voice in the city.

Time seemed to fly by, and before they knew it, hours had passed. The night air grew cooler, and the city's lights began to dim as the early hours of the morning approached.

"I should probably head back," Liam said, standing up and stretching. "Early meetings tomorrow."

Emily stood as well, feeling a pang of disappointment at the thought of their evening coming to an end. "Yeah, I should get some sleep too."

They walked towards the rooftop door together, the comfortable silence between them speaking volumes. Just as they reached the door, Liam turned to Emily.

"This might sound crazy, but would you want to meet up again? Maybe we can find another rooftop to explore," he suggested, his eyes hopeful.

Emily felt a flutter in her chest. "I’d like that," she replied, smiling.

Liam's face lit up. "Great. How about this Saturday?"

"Saturday works," Emily confirmed.

As they exchanged numbers, Emily couldn't help but feel excited about the possibility of seeing Liam again. They parted ways, each returning to their respective worlds, but with the promise of a new connection forged under the same stars.

Back in her apartment, Emily couldn't stop smiling. She looked at her ruined canvas and decided to keep it as a reminder of tonight—a night that marked the beginning of something special. She was looking forward to what the next chapter would bring, both in her art and her unexpected new friendship with Liam.