• Standing in the middle of the field, his eyes watched the area around him carefully. In an instant, he stuck his hand out, catching one of the tiny glowing bugs. Turning to face the girl who he'd come to the field with, he grinned. "Becca! Look!" Nathan said, holding his hand out flatly and turning to her. "Firefly."

    Giggling a little, Rebecca looked at the tiny glowing bug in Nathan's hand and smiled. "They're like earthbound stars, aren't they?" she asked, following a second one with her eyes.

    Nathan nodded and grinned widely. "Yeah, that's what my mom always told me." Watching as the small bug took off from his hand, he pulled Rebecca closer to himself, wrapping his arms around her tightly. "They're magical little bugs... those fireflies..." he said softly, nuzzling his face sweetly against her neck.

    Rebecca nodded and smiled. "They really are. I wonder though. What makes them glow?" she asked, snuggling into Nathan's arms comfortably. She liked the warmth that was in his embrace.

    "Well, let me ask you this. What makes you shine so brightly?"

    Rebecca blinked and turned her head just enough to look at Nathan from the corner of her eye. "I don't think I shine that much at all..."

    Nathan chuckled softly. "You're too modest, Becca." Lightly kissing her cheek, Nathan spoke again. "It's not something you can explain, is it?"

    Shaking her head, Rebecca sighed. "No... it's not."

    "Alright. Here's my explanation. Like you, they glow naturally. There isn't a particular reason that they do. It's just something that happens. That make sense?" he asked softly as he kissed her cheek again.

    "Yeah, it makes sense enough." Smiling a little, Rebecca let out a soft and content sigh.

    For a moment, an awkward silence fell over the two teenagers. Rebecca closed her eyes, and Nathan moved slightly to rest his chin on her shoulder. Standing in the field with the fireflies seemed like a good way to just relax.

    "Hey Becca?"

    "Hm?" Rebecca responded softly, letting her eyes open slowly.

    "If we're ever to be any distance apart, and we encounter fireflies, let's let that be a signal that it's okay. Does that sound like a plan?" Nathan asked quietly, watching another one of the bugs float by with a green glow.

    "Okay for what?"

    "Well," he began, letting a slight smile come across his lips. "Okay to continue on if anything ever happens. Suppose that we're separated, and one of us comes across a second opportunity at happiness. If a firefly crosses your path, that can be your sign to move on."

    Rebecca thought for a long moment, and then let her eyes close. "Okay. But I'm letting you know now, that I don't think I'll ever leave this place. Or leave you. This place means too much to me. And you mean too much to me to just let go of."

    Nathan smiled softly at Rebecca's comment. "You're an amazing girl. And compared to the stars in the sky, you shine the brightest out of any one I've ever seen. Don't lose that."

    "With you, it'd be impossible to lose. But don't you ever lose this warmth. It's a comfort."

    "I promise I won't. And I'll always be right here for you if you need me."