The lights eventually faded, turning into gray smoke that smelled of sulfur and burnt sugar. But as Mateo packed his gear, the warmth stayed. She wasn't just a memory of a flash in the dark; she was the reason he knew how to find the light in the first place. AI responses may include mistakes. Learn more

As the clock struck midnight, the first sequence began. The crowd roared as the usual reds and greens filled the plaza. Mateo stood at the control board, his eyes fixed on a single, oversized shell marked with a hand-drawn star. He pressed the igniter.

Up in the booth, Mateo looked through the haze of smoke. For a split second, the way the light reflected off the window made it look like Elena was standing right there, her hand hovering over his.

The shell whistled into the blackness, higher than all the others. For a heartbeat, there was silence. Then, it bloomed.