114 May the Moon be Eternal (2/2)

I glanced over at the girl who was smiling as she chatted with the lantern vendor. He was telling her stories of people who had their wishes came true. Even though I know it was simply a coincidence, but seeing how excited Luna got as she smiled and laughed made me want to believe as well. It made me want to believe that miracles could happen, and that the divines could help me on this wish. For the moment there, I forgot about my supposed acceptance of her fate, forgot about the fact that two angels had told me straight up that she will die, and forgot about the fact that God was a young man who's life revolves around playing video games all day. At that moment, I wrote down what I hoped for in my mind, my most sincere and honest prayer.

May the moon be eternal.

”I'm done,” I said, smiling as I felt oddly satisfied by the wish that I had written down.

”Finally,” she sighed. ”After half an hour.”

”It wasn't that long,” I chuckled.

”Let's set the lanterns free now,” she said with great excitement and enthusiasm.

I followed her over to the river banks where another store vendor was waiting with fire lighters in his hands. He handed us one and taught us how to light the fire on the small candle so that the lantern would be able to float and fly off into the night. With his guidance and help, both Luna and I lit our candles at the same time. I could feel the lanterns trying to lift up into the air and escape, but I held it gently in place as I waited for Luna so that we could release ours at the same time.

”Ready?” She smiled as she looked over at me.

”Of course,” I answered.

”Three, two,” she counted down. ”One.”

At one, both of us released our hands, allowing our lanterns to rise into the air and be carried by the nighttime breeze over the surface of the lake. According to ancient customs, the idea is that the lanterns will float all the way to the heavens and after God reads our wishes, he will grant them. At that moment, I truly hoped that the legends were true.

My eyes followed our two lanterns as it slowly rose higher and higher up into the nighttime sky. I glanced over to my right, admiring the beautiful side view of Luna's face as she gazed upwards at our lanterns with a large smile on her face. Her eyes sparkled as it reflected the beautiful nighttime sky that was dotted with the many lanterns that floated up to the heavens.

Then, I looked up once again, seeing where our lantern had flown. It would appear that the other lanterns all died out, but oddly enough, ours were still going strong. It continued to rise, almost as if it was truly going to crack the clouds and into the palace of God. However, before our lanterns made its way past the clouds, the fire extinguished.

”Aww...” Luna sighed.

”Don't worry Miss,” the temple employee nearby said to comfort her. ”Yours is the highest I've ever seen. God definitely seen yours and will most definitely grant your wish.”

”That would be great,” Luna smiled.

”So what did you wish for?” I asked her once again.

Then, she turned her beautiful face in my direction and smiled and winked playfully. ”I'll make sure to tell you before I die.”

I let out a sigh. I couldn't say I was surprised because I anticipated this response from her. However, upon hearing it from her, curiosity nagged at my heart.

”I'll tell you what I wished for,” I said, grabbing onto her hand. ”So tell me what you wished for.”

”Nope,” she said, turning her head away from me with a smug smile on her face.

With a sigh, I realized that no matter how hard I begged, she wouldn't tell me. And with a smile, I accepted my defeat, hoping that I will eventually know before her death.

However, that never happened.