The summer night was warm, and the sky above the small town glittered with countless stars. The air smelled faintly of grass and earth, and the chirping of crickets filled the silence between two children sitting side by side. A boy and a girl, no older than ten, had sneaked out of their houses to meet in the open field behind the village. Their bare feet brushed against the cool soil, and fireflies danced around them, glowing like tiny lanterns that seemed to listen to their whispers.
The girl tilted her head back, her eyes wide as she pointed at the sky. "Look, that one is brighter than all the others. Maybe it's watching us," she said, her voice filled with childish wonder. Her hair was tied in two uneven braids, and her cheeks were flushed from running. She giggled, her laughter soft and innocent, echoing in the quiet night.
The boy sat beside her, his knees pulled up to his chest. He wasn't laughing. His eyes were serious, too serious for a child, as he stared at her with a determination that seemed out of place. "When we grow up," he said slowly, "I'll be someone important. And I'll marry you."
She blinked at him, surprised. Then she laughed again, thinking it was just another silly game. "Marry me? You're too young to say things like that. We're just kids!" She poked his arm playfully, but he didn't flinch. He only looked at her more firmly, as if he wanted to carve his words into her heart.
"I mean it," he said, his voice steady. He reached out and hooked his pinky finger around hers. "Promise?"
The girl hesitated, then smiled. "Fine. Promise." She thought it was harmless, just another childhood vow like promising to share candy or to never tell secrets. But to him, it was everything.
The wind carried their laughter away, but the boy's heart carried the vow forever. He looked at her face, memorizing every detail — the curve of her smile, the sparkle in her eyes, the way her hair fell across her forehead. He wanted to remember it all, because he knew one day he would need it.
"Do you think we'll still know each other when we're grown up?" she asked suddenly, her voice softer now.
"Yes," he said without hesitation. "I'll find you, no matter what."
She tilted her head, amused by his seriousness. "You sound like a knight in those fairy tales. But what if I forget?"
"Then I'll remind you," he whispered.
The girl laughed again, but this time her laughter was gentler, almost shy. She picked up a small ribbon from her hair and tied it around his wrist. "Here. If you really mean it, keep this. When you're older, you can show me and prove you didn't forget."
The boy looked at the ribbon as if it were the most precious treasure in the world. He clenched his fist around it, his heart pounding. "I'll keep it forever," he said.
The night grew colder, and the stars seemed to shine brighter. The children lay back on the grass, staring at the sky. The girl's eyelids grew heavy, and soon her breathing slowed. She fell asleep beside him, her head resting lightly against his shoulder.
The boy didn't sleep. He stayed awake, watching her, listening to the rhythm of her breath. He thought about the future about growing up, about becoming strong enough to protect her, about keeping his promise. He didn't know how, but he knew he would.
The ribbon on his wrist felt warm, as if it carried her heartbeat. He touched it again and again, whispering to himself, "I'll marry you. I'll marry you."
The crickets sang, the fireflies glowed, and the stars bore witness to a vow that would shape his entire life.
Years later, she would forget. But he never would.