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A picture of the two of them rested on the nightstand beside the bed. Sandrone reached for it, her fingers tightening around the frame as if it were the only thing keeping her together.
“Columbina... you have no idea how much I wish you were here right now.”
Her voice echoed through the empty room.
Without Columbina's presence, the bedroom felt hollow. Every corner seemed colder, every silence heavier. It was as though a piece of Sandrone's soul had left alongside her the day she departed for the moon.
“I wish I could see you again.”
The words slipped from her lips in a whisper.
She hugged the picture frame tightly against her chest, tears trailing down her cheeks before falling onto the comforter draped across her lap.
After a moment, she loosened her grip and looked down at the photograph. The image captured a happier time one she found herself returning to every night before bed.
Carefully, she placed the frame back onto the nightstand.
This had become a ritual.
Every night, Sandrone clung to the fragile hope that one day she would see Columbina again. And every night, regret crept into her thoughts.
She should have told her.
She should have said what she truly felt before Columbina left. The weight of those unsaid words haunted her.
A sudden noise broke the silence. Sandrone's eyes shifted toward the window.
Moonlight spilled through the glass, illuminating the room in silver. For a brief moment, something moved within the glow.
Then a familiar voice spoke.
“Someone sounds like they missed me. Don't tell me you've gotten soft, my dear Sandrone.”
A figure descended gracefully through the open window.
Bathed in moonlight, Columbina landed gently on the bedroom floor.
The Moon Goddess stood before her once more.
Sandrone stared.
Then immediately buried her face in her hands.
“Ha... I've finally lost it. Now I'm hallucinating.”
A groan escaped her as she rubbed her eyes.
The soft sound of footsteps approached.
Then she felt a gentle tap against her shoulder.
“For a genius, you seem surprisingly shocked by this.”
Columbina's voice was accompanied by a small, amused chuckle.
Sandrone froze.
Slowly, she looked up.
Their eyes met.
“Wait... COLUMBINA?!”
She nearly fell off the bed in the process.
Columbina smiled.
“Alive and well.”
She paused.
“That's what the Frostmoon Scions used to say, right?”
Her brow furrowed slightly.
“Or... was it something else?”
She tilted her head in confusion.
For a moment, Sandrone could only stare.
Just minutes ago, she had been crying over the woman standing in front of her.
But then another thought struck her.
Wait.
She didn't hear any of that, right?
Not the crying.
Not the pathetic confession.
Please tell me she didn't hear any of that.
Her face immediately heated up.
Questions flooded her mind all at once.
Why was Columbina here?
How long had she been standing outside?
How much had she heard?
Taking a steadying breath, Sandrone forced herself to focus on the most important question.
“Why the hell are you even back right now?”
"Tonight, it seems the moon needs to keep you company."
Columbina's voice was barely above a whisper, meant for Sandrone alone.
She sat beside her on the bed and gently took her hand, gazing into the blue eyes she had once adored.
"Am I wrong?"
The question made Sandrone's chest tighten.
Part of her wanted to push Columbina away by leaving. To make her feel even a fraction of the loneliness she'd endured. But another part, one far more stubborn, refused to let this moment slip away.
"You're not wrong, Columbina."
The words escaped before she could stop them.
A shaky breath left Sandrone's lips.
"I missed you so much."
Before Columbina could react, Sandrone wrapped her arms around her and buried her face against her neck. A muffled sob broke the silence.
For a moment, Columbina froze.
Then she slowly returned the embrace.
Columbina held her tighter, resting her chin on her shoulder as quiet tears fell.
The world seemed to fade around them.
For the first time in what felt like an eternity, the ache in their hearts eased. Being together again felt right like something long broken had finally begun to heal.
Eventually, Columbina pulled back just enough to speak.
"You only missed me?" she asked, a playful smile creeping onto her face.
"You're sure it wasn't something more?"
Sandrone immediately looked away, unwilling to reveal the faint blush spreading across her cheeks.
"Just that."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Positive?"
"Yes."
"Absolutely positive?"
"Columbina..."
"What if I left for the moon ag—"
"Don't finish that sentence." Sandrone's sharp glare cut her off.
"Ooh~ Scary." Columbina couldn't help but tease her.
Sandrone groaned. "You're unbelievably annoying, you know that?"
Instead of answering, Columbina leaned closer. Very close. Slowly, she opened her eyes. For the first time, Sandrone saw them clearly. Brilliant magenta.
Beautiful.
Her breath caught. For a moment, she forgot how to speak. Then a single word slipped from her lips.
"Beautiful..."
Only one word escaped Sandrone's lips as she met Columbina's gaze. The moment their eyes locked, the tension between them seemed to melt away, replaced by something softer, something neither of them could hide anymore.
Before the automaton could find the courage to say anything else, Columbina leaned closer. Her breath brushed gently against Sandrone's lips as she whispered,
"I love you, Sandrone."
The words echoed through Sandrone's mind, drowning out every other thought. For a heartbeat, the world stood still. Time itself seemed to freeze around them, leaving only the quiet sound of their breathing in the space they shared.
Almost hesitantly, Sandrone lifted a hand and cupped Columbina's cheek. Her fingertips trembled slightly as they traced warm skin, as if she needed to confirm that this wasn't another beautiful illusion destined to vanish the moment she reached for it.
But Columbina was real.
And for once, Sandrone allowed herself to believe it.
Something called for the automaton to move forward by a feeling she could no longer suppress, she closed the remaining distance between them. Her lips met Columbina's in a gentle, tentative kiss, one filled with all the words she had never been able to say aloud.
Her heart raced wildly in her chest as she felt Columbina kiss her back.
Sandrone's eyes fluttered shut. Her thumb softly brushed across Columbina's cheek, savoring the warmth beneath her touch, the softness of her lips, the simple fact that she was here.
Maybe tomorrow will bring uncertainty. Maybe fate would still pull them apart.
But none of that mattered now.
For this one perfect moment, Columbina was with her.
And Sandrone intended to cherish every second of it.
As Sandrone pulled away, she raised the back of her hand to her mouth, a faint blush spreading across her cheeks. She already knew Columbina would never let her live this down.
"I know, I know. Wipe that smug look off your face," Sandrone muttered.
A soft chuckle escaped Columbina's lips.
"Hmm..." she hummed teasingly. "That kiss was a little unclear. Are you sure you love me?"
"I literally just kissed you, idiot. What do you think?" Sandrone shot back, her face growing even redder.
Unable to resist, Columbina leaned closer and gently pressed a kiss to Sandrone's forehead.
"I've known the answer for quite a while now, Sandrone," she said, a warm smile gracing her features.
"I always knew you felt the same."
She tilted her head thoughtfully.
"Why else would you let me sneak into your room in the middle of the night?"
"Or make me coffee every time I stop by?"
"Or let me sleep in your room whenever I want?"
Columbina's smile widened as she watched Sandrone's expression crumble under each example.
"For someone who spends so much time barking and hissing at me, there had to be more to it."
She leaned in slightly.
"Right, Sandrone?"
Mortified, Sandrone snatched the nearest pillow and hurled it straight at Columbina's face.
"COLUMBINAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
The outraged growl that followed only made Columbina laugh harder.
Columbina fell backward onto the bed with a soft laugh, clutching one of the pillows against her chest. The familiar sound filled the room, warm and genuine, and for a moment it felt as though no time had passed between them at all.
Minutes slipped by as they fell into old habits without even realizing it. Teasing remarks, quiet smiles, stolen glances—little pieces of a life they once shared. Nostalgia wrapped itself around them like a comforting blanket, making the years apart feel distant and unreal.
Eventually, Columbina pushed herself upright and shifted across the mattress until she was beside Sandrone. Without hesitation, she slipped her arms around the taller woman's neck, holding her close. Their bodies brushed together, and the simple contact carried a tenderness that words could never quite capture.
The moment Columbina's embrace settled around her, Sandrone melted into it.
A smile appeared on her lips before she could stop it.
For once, she allowed herself to relax, sinking into the warmth she had missed for so long.
Then, in a voice so quiet it was almost lost between them, she asked:
"Columbina... are you going to leave again?"
The question hung heavily in the air.
The playful atmosphere vanished instantly.
Behind those few words was every lonely night, every unanswered thought, every wound left behind by Columbina's absence.
Sandrone's heart tightened painfully.
She wanted nothing more than for this moment to last forever.
For Columbina to stay.
For her not to disappear the moment she let herself believe again.
Columbina's expression softened.
She let out a quiet sigh and wrapped her arms around Sandrone even tighter, lowering her head until her lips brushed against her ear.
"I won't leave again."
The whisper was gentle.
Certain.
A promise.
Sandrone slowly tilted her head back, sapphire eyes searching Columbina's face as if trying to determine whether this was real or simply another dream she was too afraid to wake from.
"You mean that...?"
Her voice wavered slightly.
"I don't want a taste of this... only for it all to be gone when I wake up."
One hand lifted between them, gesturing vaguely at their current state—their intertwined bodies, the bed beneath them, the closeness that felt like its own little world separated from everything else.
This.
Them.
The happiness she had been denied for so long.
Columbina's gaze never left hers.
"Yes, Sandrone."
Two simple words.
Yet they carried enough sincerity to break through years of doubt.
Sandrone wanted to believe her.
And despite herself...
She did.
"But—"
The protest barely left her lips before Columbina leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss against her cheek.
Sandrone froze.
Then, before she could recover, Columbina gently took hold of her shoulders and turned her around to face her fully.
Their eyes met.
For a brief moment, neither spoke.
Then Columbina closed the distance between them.
Her lips found Sandrone's.
The kiss was slow.
Patient.
Not demanding anything from her.
Simply reassuring.
A silent answer to every fear Sandrone couldn't bring herself to voice.
An unspoken promise that she wasn't going anywhere.
When Columbina finally pulled away, she remained close enough for their foreheads to nearly touch.
A warm smile tugged at her lips as she gazed into Sandrone's brilliant sapphire eyes.
Sandrone stared back, momentarily speechless before finally finding something to complain about.
"You're frustrating."
A faint blush colored her cheeks.
"Kissing me whenever you please like we're..."
She trailed off, desperately searching for another explanation.
Any explanation.
One that didn't make her heart race.
Columbina's smile widened.
"Like we're a couple?"
The interruption was immediate.
Merciless.
Sandrone's face grew even warmer.
"That's not what I was going to say."
"Oh?"
Columbina tilted her head innocently.
"It certainly sounded like it."
"It did not."
"It absolutely did."
Sandrone looked away with an annoyed huff, refusing to meet her eyes.
Columbina laughed softly.
"Honestly, I thought you'd be a lot nicer after that kiss."
The moon goddess leaned closer once more, amusement dancing in her magenta eyes.
Instead of answering, Sandrone buried her face against Columbina's shoulder in a futile attempt to hide her embarrassment.
The laughter that followed was worth every second.
A smug smile slowly spread across Columbina's face as she watched Sandrone try—and fail—to recover from her embarrassment.
The sight was simply too precious.
Sandrone's usually composed expression was in complete ruin. Her brows were knitted together in frustration, her cheeks still tinted pink from the kisses, and every attempt at maintaining her dignity only seemed to make matters worse.
Columbina rested her chin against her hand and tilted her head.
"You're adorable."
Sandrone's eyes twitched.
"I am not."
"You are."
"I am not."
The certainty in Columbina's voice only deepened Sandrone's irritation.
The moon goddess leaned forward slightly, amusement dancing in her eyes.
"You've been pouting for the last five minutes."
"Because you're impossible."
"Mm."
"And annoying."
"Perhaps."
"And insufferable."
"Only for you."
Sandrone let out an exasperated groan and buried her face in her hands.
Columbina laughed softly.
The sound only made Sandrone feel even more defeated.
"Shut up," she muttered.
"No."
"Please."
"No."
Sandrone slowly lowered her hands and glared at her.
"I don't want to talk about it."
The smug smile never left Columbina's face.
"Say it, Sandrone."
Immediately, Sandrone froze.
She knew exactly what Columbina meant.
"No."
"Say it."
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because."
Columbina moved closer across the bed, her smile becoming gentler despite the teasing.
"Because you're embarrassed?"
Sandrone crossed her arms.
"No."
"You're embarrassed."
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm not."
"You absolutely are."
Sandrone hated how easily Columbina could read her.
The worst part was that she was right.
Completely right.
Columbina reached up and brushed a loose strand of hair from Sandrone's face.
The gesture was so affectionate that Sandrone almost forgot what they were talking about.
Almost.
Then Columbina spoke again.
"Say you love me."
Sandrone's entire body stiffened.
The words hit her harder than expected.
For a moment, silence settled between them.
Columbina wasn't demanding.
She wasn't forcing her.
She simply looked at her with those patient eyes, waiting.
And somehow that made it even harder.
Sandrone looked away immediately. Her heart was pounding. She had never said those words before.
Not like this.
Not to anyone.
Love has always been easier to hide behind actions.
Behind gifts. Protection. Loyalty. Staying by someone's side.
Those things were easy.
Words were not. Words made things real. Words made her vulnerable.
Her fingers tightened against the blanket beneath her.
Why was this so difficult?
Everyone made it sound so simple.
Three words.
Three stupid words.
Yet they felt heavier than anything she had ever built.
Her throat tightened.
Columbina remained quiet.
Waiting.
Patient.
Certain.
As though she already knew the answer.
The silence stretched.
Then Sandrone finally turned back toward her.
Her sapphire eyes met Columbina's gaze.
For once, there was no irritation. No sarcasm. No attempt to hide. Just honesty.
Raw and frightening honesty.
Her lips parted.
"Columbina..." The name came out softer than intended.
Almost trembling.
She paused.
Took a breath.
Then finally gave in.
"I love you too."
The words were barely above a whisper.
Yet they carried years of longing.
Years of waiting.
Years of feelings she had never found the courage to voice.
The moment the confession left her lips, Sandrone wanted nothing more than to disappear from sheer embarrassment.
Her face immediately burned red.
She looked away.
Anywhere but at Columbina.
"I said it."
The words came out in a rushed mumble.
"There. Happy?"
For a moment, Columbina didn't answer.
Sandrone cautiously glanced back.
The teasing smile was gone.
Instead, Columbina was staring at her with an expression so soft it nearly made Sandrone's heart stop.
Like she had just been handed something precious.
Something she would treasure forever.
Then Columbina reached forward, cupped her cheek, and smiled.
A real smile.
One reserved only for her.
"Very happy."
Before Sandrone could think of another complaint, Columbina leaned forward and kissed her once more.
And this time, Sandrone didn't protest at all.