Short story: Under the Light of the Comet

Juan was feeling excited and a little nervous as he prepared for tonight's special evening. After so long, he had managed to reunite with his closest friends. Together, they had decided to go to a lake near the city to witness the arrival of a comet that hadn't been seen in 50,000 years.

"Isn't it exciting that we're going to see the comet?" said John to Mary as he put the snacks away in a basket.

"Yes, it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!" replied Mary, enthusiastically.

The comet had been a recurring topic of conversation on social networks and in the media for weeks. The last time an astronomical phenomenon of such magnitude had passed close to Earth had been half a century ago. Juan and his friends did not want to miss the opportunity to witness this unique event.

"Do you remember the last time we saw a comet like this?" asked Peter to Anne as they walked toward the lake.

"It was so long ago, wasn't it? We were just kids then," Ana replied, nostalgic.

As he prepared the snacks they would bring, John paused to think about his friends. Maria, one of the first people he met at school, was a cheerful and fun person, always ready to laugh and enjoy life. Peter, his childhood friend, had shared happy and sad moments with him over the years. Ana, a more recent friendship, was a person with a strong personality and great listening skills.

"Who brought the music player?" asked Pedro as they arrived at the lake.

"I have it right here. Do you want me to play something?" offered Ana, pulling out the small device.

John wondered what this evening would be like. Would it be an exciting and memorable evening, as he had hoped? Or would it just be another reunion in their lives? He couldn't know, but he felt that something special was about to happen.

When everything was ready, Juan headed to the lake. The sky was clear and the stars were shining brightly, creating an idyllic setting to witness the arrival of the comet. They gathered in a small group by the shore, enjoying music, wine and company.

As the evening progressed, Juan and his friends immersed themselves in memories of their teenage years, laughing and sharing anecdotes of those times.

"Remember when we ran away from school and went to the beach?" said Maria, laughing.

"Yes, and we almost got caught by the teachers!" exclaimed Pedro, remembering the moment.

Suddenly, Juan noticed that the sky was beginning to change color. The sun was setting and darkness was taking over the firmament. He felt a mixture of excitement and nervousness, aware that the awaited moment was about to arrive.

"Look, the sky is changing!" said Juan, pointing upwards.

However, to their surprise, as they looked at the time they realized that the comet had passed without their noticing. Engrossed in their conversations and memories, time had slipped away from them without their being able to witness the astronomical phenomenon.

"I can't believe the comet has already passed!" exclaimed Juan, disappointed.

"We were so focused on our stories that we didn't even notice!" said Mary, laughing.

Although they were initially a bit disappointed, they soon laughed at their lack of attention. For, in truth, the most valuable thing about that night was not seeing the comet, but being able to reunite with their friends, whom they deeply appreciated and with whom they hadn't had the opportunity to reconnect in years.

"I'm so glad we were able to be together again," Ana said, hugging her friends.

"Yes, this is what really matters. Moments like this are the ones that stay etched forever," Pedro added, smiling.

These memories would be a treasure that would accompany them for years to come and beyond. Juan realized that friendship was what really mattered, and that shared moments like this were the ones that would remain etched forever.

Thank you, Comet, for being the pretext for this meaningful reunion.

Source of the images.

Image created with Starryai.