Epilogue
IZZY - TWO YEARS LATER
“Woah, was that a shooting star?”
“That’s a plane, my love.”
“Ah.”
I gently squeeze Noah’s bicep, my arm hooked through his, as we cling together for warmth. We knew Norway would be cold when we planned this trip, but we forgot to consider that we’d be spending most of our time sitting around waiting. The padded coats we’re wearing are thick, but there’s still a bite to the air that has us both shivering.
“Do you think we’ll be able to see them tonight?” Noah asks as he pulls me closer, his gloved hand running up and down my arm.
“The forecast said it was likely,” I tell him.
I can only hope it was right.
It took us a while to figure this trip out. We researched the best time of year and location to see them, but we also had to balance that with my work and Noah’s studies.
A year after Noah came back to me, Avery decided she wanted to open a new cafe. To my complete shock, she asked if I wanted to manage it. I jumped at the chance before I realised how much extra work would be at the start. Getting everything set up and hiring staff was hard, but now that it’s been open for nearly a year, I’m getting used to it.
Meanwhile, Noah has been busy at university. He ended up deferring his entry, which means he’s only just started his second year, but his workload is still heavy. I never knew how much went into becoming a doctor, and his dedication has made me fall even more in love with him.
We sat down a couple months ago to figure out our schedules, and it just so happened that December worked best for both of us. I didn’t have the chance to say anything before Noah was looking at flights around Christmas and New Year.
When I pictured my life a few years ago, I could never have imagined it would include me sitting under the stars with the love of my life, waiting to see a sight I’ve dreamed of for so long. If I wasn’t wearing mittens, I’d pinch myself.
Since Noah came back, every day has felt like a dream. It didn’t take us long to finally label our relationship, and we’ve laughed so many times about how foolish we were when we were younger. We both were dealing with a lot of big feelings back then, but now we’re in a much better place to handle them.
We’ve even started making plans to move in together. Both of us still live at home right now, but we’ve been saving to find a new place. When I told Isaac that I wanted to move out, he was more offended than I thought he would be, but I know he’s happy for me, too.
Noah has become a new addition to our family, easily fitting in with the group. He even plays football with Luke and Isaac on weekends, and I show up at every single game. Violet, Jinhee, and I sit on the sidelines cheering on our partners, even when they lose—which is most of the time because Isaac still can’t kick a ball to save his life.
I’ve never been happier in my life. Even though I’m not living out some grand dreams or following a typical life path, I’m surrounded by so much love that nothing else seems to matter.
“Look up!”
Noah’s voice drags me out of my thoughts, and my jaw drops when I lift my head to look at the sky. It’s bathed in a wash of green and blue streaks, the colours dancing across the star-studded sky. Pictures don’t do it justice. I squeeze Noah’s arm again, silently urging him to look up even though I know he already is. He lets out a soft laugh before he presses a kiss against the top of my head.
I tear my gaze away from the bright sky above to look at him, and he’s got that beautiful smile on his face that he reserves just for me.
“Happy New Year,” Noah says,
He doesn’t give me a chance to respond before he kisses me, warmth flooding my body. Noah presses his forehead against mine, and when I look into his starry eyes, the lights reflected in them, all I see is his love for me, and the rest of our lives.