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From the hilltop, the town below blazed with colors, music spilling into the night air. Lina stood apart from the crowd, watching the celebration unfold beneath the sky.
The annual festival was known for its fireworks and laughter, a brief pause in daily routines where joy felt almost loud enough to touch. But this year, Lina felt detached, her thoughts wandering far from the cheerful noise.
She remembered past festivals when she danced without care, shared stories under these very lights. Now, the same vibrant scenes seemed distant, as if separated by an invisible wall only she could feel.
Nearby, a group of children laughed, chasing shadows cast by the flickering lamps. Their carefree joy was both beautiful and painful — a reminder of times that slip quietly away.
Lina's gaze shifted upward. The stars, steady and quiet, watched the festival with timeless patience. She took a deep breath, letting the cool night air fill her lungs.
Without rushing, she stepped forward toward the crowd. Not to join with a grand cheer or bursting smile, but to simply be present in this moment — imperfect, complex, and real.
No sudden resolution came, no swift change of heart. Instead, Lina found a gentle peace in observing life’s celebrations, understanding that sometimes being close is enough, even if the heart feels far.
The festival lights flickered, the music played on, and Lina stayed beneath the endless sky, part of the story without any need to finish it.
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