The night sky was clear and the nearest city was miles away, so innumerable stars shone overhead.

“What do you want to do with your life?”

“I want to be happy.”

“No, I mean…”

“I know what you mean. And I’m telling you I want to be happy.”

The air was pleasantly chilly without being cold. The ground was hard, but the blanket they sat on provided a little cushion.

“Life is a gift. Don’t you want to do something amazing with it?”

“I do want to do something amazing; I want to be happy. Life is misery and suffering. There is hardship everywhere you turn. To eke out some happiness amidst all of that? That is amazing.”

“But…”

“This is our life. We don’t owe anyone some big accomplishment that’s probably going to be forgotten in a generation. And that’s only if we succeed. Life is hard enough without making ourselves responsible for other people.”

Other than their voices, no sounds intruded on the stark beauty of the fall evening. A single meteor traced a path through the sky.

“Look, a shooting star. Make a wish.”

“I still think…”

“This is a gorgeous – dare I even say romantic – evening. Do you want to keep arguing? Or do you want to kiss me and find just a little happiness in this moment?”

“That’s not even a choice.”

“No, it isn’t.”