A Silent Star

Synopsis

My phone screen was glowing, open to the chat app window. The last message I sent read: [Lucas, I'll be waiting for you at the Orbit Restaurant at 7 pm. It's my birthday today.] It was sent at 5 pm. Now, it was 10:47 pm, but there was no reply. Outside the window, brilliant fireworks exploded in the deep blue night sky, the dull thuds coming through the glass. Today was not only my birthday but also the city's annual fireworks festival. The Orbit Restaurant had the best view, and I'd booked my table three months in advance. Now, the fancy steak on the table was stone cold, the red wine untouched, and the candles on the birthday cake from the restaurant had melted into a mess of colored wax. The waiter came over for the third time, carefully asking, "Ma'am, would you like a to-go box?" I shook my head, took out a few bills from my wallet, and left them on the table. "Keep the change," I said. When I stood up, my legs were tingling with pins and needles, so I leaned on the table for a moment to steady myself. I grabbed the off-white cashmere coat draped over the back of my chair. Lucas had given it to me last week. The tag hadn't even been removed yet. He said this color looked good on me. I put on the coat, gathered the collar around my neck, and walked out into the chilly December night. The cold hit me.