"She sang a song about time passing, about things changing. He sat across the fire and thought: I don't want this night to change." ~ Unknown
Michael watched her for a moment, thinking. He wanted to lift up her mood.
"What do you like the most?" he asked.
Selina blinked. "Huh?"
"What do you do when you want to take your mind off something?"
She considered the question. "I don't know. I play around, but it doesn't really take my mind off things."
"Then is there anything you do to take out your frustration?"
"Yeah." A small smile tugged at her lips. "I go to KTV and sing. Or eat spicy food."
Michael's expression brightened. "Then let's sing. I've got my guitar. I'll call the group. They're probably done setting up the bonfire."
"Wait." Selina's eyes widened. "I'm not a good singer. I've never sung in front of strangers."
His voice was easy, certain. "It's okay. You have a beautiful voice."
"That doesn't mean it sounds good when I sing."
"Then sing a line for me. I'll see for myself."
Selina shook her head, her cheeks warming. "No. I feel awkward."
"Come on." He leaned closer, a playful edge to his voice. "Please."
She hesitated, then let out a breath. "Alright…"
Her voice was soft at first, tentative, but as the melody took hold, it steadied.
"Goin' out tonight, changes into something red. Her mother doesn't like that kind of dress. Reminds her of the missing piece of innocence she lost…"
Michael smiled. Selina caught it and stopped, her cheeks flushing.
"I don't know why I felt like singing this song," she mumbled.
"That's not why I'm smiling." His voice was quieter now. "It's beautiful."
"What?"
"Your voice. It's beautiful. It's even more beautiful when you sing."
Selina looked down, her face warm. She wasn't used to being seen like this.
"Can you sing the rest?" Michael asked. "I really want to hear it."
"It's not that good," she said, but her protest was weak.
"Please."
Hearing Michael say please, she lost the will to say no.
She took a breath and let the song carry her.
"We're only gettin' older, baby. And I've been thinkin' about it lately. Does it ever drive you crazy just how fast the night changes? Everything that you've ever dreamed of disappearing when you wake up. But there's nothing to be afraid of, even when the night changes. It will never change me and you…"
When she finished, the room was quiet. Michael's smile had grown softer, something new in his grey eyes.
"I never knew you had such a great voice," he said. "I'd love to play the background music for you."
Selina felt heat rise to her cheeks again. "You're overestimating me."
"I'm not." He stood, offering his hand. "Let's go down and play with the others. It'll be fun."
She took his hand. "Alright."
The bonfire was already crackling when they reached the garden. Blankets and cushions were scattered around the fire pit.
Michael moved through the group with quiet efficiency, helping set up the bonfire. Selina stood at the edge, watching him.
When he finally settled down, she walked over and sat beside him.
"Why are you like this?" she asked.
He looked up, confused.
"Why do you always silently help others and be so considerate?" She tilted her head. "And you don't even want to acknowledge it."
Michael considered the question. "Because doing good things makes me feel good." He paused, searching for the right words. "Human beings are sinful creatures. We can never be perfect or truly kind. We have bad thoughts. We're fast to hate. And I hate that."
Selina listened, her eyes fixed on him.
"I do good things because they make me feel like the good part of my heart is safe. Like it's being protected." He looked at her. "As for why I don't ask for credit, I'm afraid that if I do, what I do won't be from my heart anymore. It'll be for show. I don't want to do good things to show people how kind I am. I do it because I want to show myself that I'm still a fine person. That's all."
Selina was quiet for a long moment. She had met people who performed kindness, who collected favours like currency. Michael was not one of them. He moved through the world with a quiet integrity that she was only beginning to understand.
"I wish I could be like you," she said finally. "Seeing you, I wonder what I've been doing all these years. I don't seem to have changed at all. Not for the better, at least."
"It's okay." His voice was gentle. "Everyone has their own pace. Their own time. In our lives, we all have that one moment that changes us, for better or worse. Just pray that when that moment comes for you, you'll be able to fight your bad side and remain good."
Selina looked at him with something new in her eyes, not admiration, exactly. Something deeper. Something she couldn't name yet.
She cleared her throat.
"Do you want a drink?"
"I'll have whatever you're having."
"Alright. What about Snacks?"
"Maybe chips. I'm craving chocolate, though."
"I don't think we have that."
"It's okay. I have some in my room."
He smiled. "I'll grab it when I get my guitar."
Selina nodded, then wandered back to her friends. Michael watched her go, then settled into a spot across from her, close enough to see the firelight flicker in her eyes.
The bonfire grew brighter as the night deepened. The conversation drifted from stories of high school to plans for the future, laughter rising and falling like the flames.
Selina sat with her friends, but her gaze kept drifting across the fire to where Michael sat, his face half-lit by the glow.
She didn't know when he had become her anchor. But sitting there in the dark, with the warmth of the fire on her skin, she understood that she didn't want to be anywhere else.