The Northern Lights

Chapter 3. Artificial Aurora

France, 2002

The room is absolutely massive, filled with mostly emptiness like the space between the nucleus and it's electrons. Adults chat about their new year's resolutions with glasses of champagne in their hands and golden bracelets around their wrists. Azra peers out a great window, watches the world change outside. This house is like a castle, enough space for ghosts to roam and children to play. Each bit of snow that falls outside the window contrasts with the black background. The Parisian streets will be packed tonight. Soon, above the skyline, the darkness will burst into a variety of loud, elaborate colours.

The snow reminds her of a treat she had during her time in Australia. For a moment, she tries her hardest to travel to the past, trying to remember what the snack was called. She squinted in thought.

Eden was dressed nicely, a nice silver watch wrapped around his wrist and a well-tailored black suit was something she hadn't seen in a while. He tried his best today, to try and impress Azra's co-workers. His face was smooth, younger. A glass of water pressed his lips, which have only ever touched alcohol once. He hated the thought of liquor, how it used to turn his father into a cold-blooded monster.

Eden chuckled at the sight of her scrunched face, "What are you doing?"

"Thinking!" she giggled, her dress was a dark purple, similar to the wine flavoured drink that was in her glass. Azra fiddles with the rose gold bracelet that still managed to fit her wrist, it was gifted to her by a young Eden, "What was the treat we had while we were in Australia?"

"We had many treats," he says, taking a seat next to her, "describe it."

Azra's look out the window once again, "The spongey cakes, they were dark," the snow is getting more violent, it spits quicker than it did the other night, "they had sprinkles of coconut on them!" She feels as though the answer is getting closer and closer.

"Lamingtons?" he asks, though he knows he is right.

"Yes!" she chuckles in excitement, "Lamingtons." the word softly falling off her tongue. She likes the way it sounds, silently repeats it in her head.

She has found herself doing this a lot, distracting herself with random thoughts. She hated keeping secrets, especially from Eden. But what if the secret she kept was just a false alarm, a one in a hundred chance. She tried to tell herself that the test was wrong, that she wasn't allowed to bear his future child right now. His mind is preoccupied with its own hushed battles; he cannot raise a child if there is an ongoing war in his head.

Azra's body is silent, face is still, though Eden can tell that something is bothering her. Something is keeping her up at night, "I was thinking," he says, to lighten the mood. A few co-workers in fancy attire walk pass them, towards the table with all the snacks.

"We haven't been on an adventure in so long," he states, before excitedly revealing his wish, "We should go to Norway again! See the Northern Lights! Climb that mountain!"

She grins, always wanting to climb Mt. Arlo again, "Yes, we should!" she pauses, before seizing the opportunity to tell him, "But we should wait..." a mere whisper under her breath.

"Well obviously," he says, eyes distracted by the pastries the waiters were handing around on silver platters.

Azra works the courage to drop a hint, "No, we should wait at least nine months." He instantly understands what she has revealed. His surprised face makes Azra chuckle, it always did, since they were teens who only held hands. The way his chocolate brown eyes almost popped out of his skull and how is mouth formed the letter 'O' within a second.