Malphas

"Lake Stars"

Summer rolled out with hot days, and the family decided to escape from the city heat - they rented a cozy cottage on the shore of a quiet lake, where the water sparkled like molten silver in the sun, and in the evenings the air was filled with the aroma of pine needles and freshness.

We arrived in the evening, unloaded the cars, brought in the bags, laughed at how someone forgot the salt, but then decided that it didn't matter - the main thing was that we had brought the wine. The first evening passed in lazy comfort: guitar, laughter, stories of old family stories that everyone knew by heart, but still listened to as if for the first time.

And then he arrived - Malphas.

He showed up unexpectedly, although everyone knew he was supposed to arrive later. The cottage door creaked and he walked in with a slight smile, a bottle of something strong and a bag of snacks in his hands.

— "Sorry for the unannounced warning, but... the road called."

He was greeted with joyful exclamations, seated at the table, poured wine, and handed a guitar. He played casually but beautifully, plucking the strings as if they were an extension of his fingers. Somewhere between the chords and jokes, he stole glances at her - the one for whom, probably, he had come.

And then she stood up, said something about going out for some air, and went out to the lake.

Malphas waited a couple of minutes, then stood up too.

— "I won't be long," he nodded to the others, but everyone understood anyway.

---

The shore was quiet. The water lazily licked the rocks, reflecting the sky, strewn with stars. She sat on an old wooden pier, her bare feet touching the cool water.

— "Is there enough room?" — his voice sounded very close.

She didn't turn around, but she smiled.

— "If you behave decently."

He sat down next to her, their shoulders barely touching. The silence was warm, like this summer evening.

— "Do you often look at the stars?" he asked finally.

— "When there is someone to do it with."

He laughed, low and quiet.

— "And if I ask, what are you thinking about now?"