A Dance In The Moonlight
By: Uswa Khan
Tags: Short Story, Written Tales, Flashfiction

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She wished she could end it.

End the night, not just for herself but for those around her. It was doing her no good, staying up like this and that too alone, while everyone she was acquainted with danced with dance partners, with their lovers, with friends.

Leaving her alone.

She leaned back against the railing, her dress flowing down her legs, wind playing with it. Moon shone on her and all she could see in the moonlight was him. He too was alone, he himself was leaning, although against the wall.

And just like always, he looked handsome. Handsome but young. Way too young.

He was two years junior than her, freshmen in college yet was the only guy who’d acknowledged her, who was infactuated with her. Her friends sure did find that comical. She did too, always being uncomfortable when he was around. And gosh, he was always around, being in the same department, same clubs as her.

Even now he was watching her. His eyes were transfixed on her and she suddenly felt self-conscious. She turned her head up, he immediately looked away –onto the cup in his hands.

The desire to end the night grew, but it would end on its time; it’d just started an hour or two ago. Why hadn’t she left? She didn’t know. Why did she came in the first place? She didn’t know that for sure either. Perhaps she didn’t want to miss out on the first party of the year.

The night would end, eventually it would, but for now, she could atleast cherish it. And so towards him she walked.

He immediately registered her presence and looked like he wanted to run. To avoid what was coming next. But he didn’t run. Didn’t even look at her when she stood in front of him.

“Hi,” She said.

“Hi.”

She strolled towards the railing, looking out at the sky. Then looked back. He hadn’t followed her.

“Isn’t the weather beautiful?”

A few steps and he was next to her, gazing out at the sky. He looked conflicted, contemplating whether to reply or not.

He let out a sigh, “Why are you here?”

She furrowed her brows. Out of all the things he could’ve said she certainly hadn’t expected him to say this. But then again why had she walked over to him? Out of all the people, him?

“You were standing alone.” She blurted, hoping it was a reply good enough.

It wasn’t.

He looked at her with such intensity that she had to look away.

“Are you sure about that? That you’re here because I was standing alone and not because you were alone?”

She didn’t reply. How could she? He was right in his assumption.

“I’m always alone,” he was still looking at her, and she, ahead at the stars, “Why approach me just now? ”

Why approach him just now? Why walk over to him? Why hadn’t she left? Why did she come?

Too many questions. The answer: him. Because of him. She knew he’d be here, knew he’d be alone, that she herself would be alone. Just them and for once, she could be around him without having that same feeling of awkwardness, the prying eyes of her friends, their judgmental stares.

He turned away from her, ready to leave. She grabbed his arm, keeping him in place. She couldn’t let him go. Not now. Not when all she wanted was him.

“You know that if, given the chance, I’d dance with you?” She eyed him, praying he could see the sincerity in her eyes, could hear it in her words.

His features softened, dark eyes glittering in the moonlight, “What’s stopping you now?”

She smiled. Nothing was stopping her. At least, nothing was stopping her now. Before she’d been a culprit, a villain herself.

“A dance, please?” She asked, blinking up at him.

His eyes looked conflicted but he eventually nodded, taking her hands into his and locking their fingers. For the first time that night, he smiled, a smile so bright it could put the moon to shame.

They danced. She didn’t know what would become of them tomorrow, didn’t know how long the night lasted. To them it seemed it had started since and would last until, forever.