The Moon Knows How to Play

Chapter 18

Chapter 18

The night before the wedding, I stood on the veranda outside my room, the weight of tomorrow pressing against my chest like the humid evening air. The old mansion was silent behind me, but my thoughts were restless. I leaned against the wooden post, one hand wrapped around my phone, the other resting on the rail as I stared up at the sky.

The stars were scattered across the heavens like shattered diamonds. Some flickered faintly, others burned brighter, and for a moment, I thought of them as souls watching from above. My gaze lingered on one particularly bright star, and I imagined it was ours—our baby's. Watching us. Waiting.

The phone vibrated softly in my palm. I answered quickly, almost desperately, because I knew the sound of her voice would be the one thing to anchor me tonight.

"Hello?"

Her voice drifted through the line—gentle, familiar, the only sound in the world that could soothe me. My heart tightened and my lips curved into a smile. "How's my wife-soon-in-one-day?"

A soft laugh followed, light but tired. I could picture her already—hair brushed loose over her shoulders, cheeks pink from excitement and nerves, sitting at the dining table with her father nearby. "I'm fine," she said. "Papa and I just finished the video we'll play tomorrow at the reception. How about you?"

"I'm perfect now that you called." My voice dropped, quiet, as though confessing something to the stars above. "I thought you'd forgotten me."

"I could never." Her reply was steady, sure, but I heard the faint quiver in her voice.

For a moment, silence stretched. Only the wind moved, tugging gently at my shirt, carrying the scent of grass and faint flowers from the garden. My throat burned with something I hadn't planned to say, but the truth slipped out anyway.

"I just came from the grave," I admitted.

On the other end, silence again. Heavier this time. I winced, realizing my mistake. She didn't need reminders tonight. She needed comfort.

"I left flowers," I continued, words tumbling before I could stop them. My eyes locked on that lone bright star. "I told our baby we're getting married tomorrow. That maybe... maybe they'd be happy to know that, wherever they are."

The faintest sound cracked through the line—a sob. Fragile, broken, tearing straight into me. I closed my eyes, pressing my palm against my chest to fight the sharp ache.

"Hey," I said gently, "don't cry. You'll ruin your beauty for tomorrow." I tried to smile, even though my voice threatened to break. "Our baby wouldn't want to see you crying, right? Whoever they were... I know they'd want their mom happy."

Her breath hitched, followed by a trembling whisper. "Do you think our child is happy now?"

I swallowed, throat tight, eyes stinging. "Yes. Happier, even, if they see us smile. Happier if they know their mom is laughing instead of crying. No child wants to see their mother sad."

"How do you always know?" she asked, half a chuckle, half a sob.

"I know your voice too well. I don't need to see you to know how you feel. I can read every emotion in it. Sounds weird, right?"

She chuckled softly, the sound a fragile thread keeping me steady. Then she whispered, "Don't end the call. Even if we fall asleep... let it stay."

"Of course," I promised, shifting my weight against the rail, looking once more at the star above. "Good night, baby. Sweet dreams. Dream of me, okay? I love you."

Her faint giggle was the last thing I heard before silence wrapped around me again.

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────