Wait

I wait for him again today, like everyday. The people walking past are all talking, all smiling. The couples are holding hands and being in love. My love is one-sided. He comes out, still wearing his slightly wrinkled uniform. He sees me and smiles. "Ready to go?" I nod and he takes my hand. As he pulls me through the crowd I think of a thousand ways to tell him how I feel. But I'm afraid. What if it really is as one-sided as I believe? Our friendship would surely never be the same.
He finally drags me into the one place he knows I love. The planetarium inside of the library. I gape first at the planetarium then at him. How did he manage to buy tickets when he was getting paid so little? He grinned as he guessed what I was thinking and pulled out two shiny, silver tickets. I shriek with pure joy and almost tackle him. He must have saved his salary for months! Smiling, he grabs my hand and we walk into the icy cold room.
I pick out two seats in a balcony above the second tier and the lights dim moments later. I sit on the edge of my seat as he leans on his. For an hour I'm entranced by stars and novas as he rubs small circles on my back. I end up laying my head on his shoulder. At some point, he surrendered his jacket, stuffed in his backpack. His arm is around me and I feel perfectly content. The lights go up; the spell has been lifted.
He stands and stretches as I sit and fiddle with the zippers and studs on his jacket. Should I tell him now? Or should I let another day go by. Another day in my little world, never knowing the ending to this little story. I open my mouth to speak as he holds his hand out. I look up and he smiles, his perfect smile lighting up the dim room. I take his hand and he pulls me away from the cosmos. I follow him, wondering what to do.
For an hour I'm dragged around the city, exploring and laughing. For an hour I search for when I should tell him. We end up in front of the fountain in the square by the waterfront. He's joking about some coworker of his. We laugh and then we both fall silent. Should I tell him? It seems like the perfect time. After all, we seem to have nothing left to say. I open my mouth...and I'm enveloped in his arms. I feel his warm breath on my neck and I begin to shake. I can't do it, I'm too afraid. Afraid of losing what I already have. So I bury my face into his chest and listen to his heart. His heartbeat is steady, calming. The polar opposite of mine. He loosens his hold and tells me he has to leave. I stand in disbelief. No, I have to tell him. He begins to walk away. I bite my lip. Take one step forward. "Wait!"