I could recognise him anywhere. Even in the sea of people bustling all directions. His wavy raven-black hair looked bluish under the streetlights, a significant contrast to his pale face. But his smile was like a blazing fire in the cold, radiating its warmth right into my heart, my pounding heart.
“Look at you,” he said without losing his gaze to me. “You’ve always told me about England or Australia. But look where you are! United States?”
I smiled. “Weird, isn’t it?”
“You escaped too far. It’s across the planet, and it’s freezing,” he shuddered. There was a faint blue shadow under his eyes.
“I know,” I said still in disbelief.
The reality hit me again. He’s here. Solid and real, so close. I could even touch him, talk to him. There were tons of questions I had in mind and things I wanted to show him. But I just stared at him instead, afraid that he could probably disappear into the thin air. Or worse, waking up in my own bedroom only to have another breakdown.
He stared at me back, his smile vanished and for a second his eyes looked sad. He stepped forward closing our distance and hugged me. His chin rested on my shoulder.
“I find you,” he whispered. His voice was barely audible in the middle of traffic noise.
I took a deep breath as the memories of home burst around me. He was still smelled like the black tea, only without sunlight but freezing air and musky dust from the long flight. He was cold and warm at the same time.
When he pulled me tighter with both arms, I mumbled, “You have no idea how much I missed you.”
He was quiet for a few seconds, before murmuring, “I miss you too. I didn’t know I would fly half of the planet to be with you. But even if you returned to Mars, I would still find my way to you.”
I smiled, my throat tightened as tears streaming down in silence. “I know,” I managed to respond but my voice cracked from crying. “But you don’t have to be overdramatic like that.”
He laughed and stroked my head gently. “Are you crying? Oh, my sensitive little Martian, don’t cry. I’m here.”
I laughed too between my tears and buried my face on his damp jacket. Now everything was right. Again. Even all the dull colours of winter turned bright.