The beauty of the night always mesmerized him. He didn't know what always made the nights magical, but whatever it was made him enjoy working at night unlike many people. He could spend hours looking around admiring the wonders of the nocturnal world. He had names for all the constellations some that even astronomers didn’t know existed yet. He could almost tell every single alteration among the stars.

Tonight was no different from any other night. He lay in the open field watching all around him. The fireflies flitted around him dancing. The air was filled with the songs of crickets. Once in an even intervals a faint howl could be heard from afar and he knew he wasn't alone.

'Why does everything seem to go against me? 'He asked a firefly that rested on his palm, 'why does every one hate me?'

'That’s because you also hate yourself 'said the imaginary voice from his little firefly friend

'Do you think that there is somebody out there for me 'asked Eric ' or will I die a lonely bitter old man?'

'If it’s bound to happen it will definitely happen you will fall in love and be happy forever 'said the firefly

'When will that happen my friend?' Eric asked desperately

'When you stop hoping that one day your stupid stars will drop you an angel as your wife' said the firefly, ‘Get out more and find friends and that will be a good way to start.'

For the rest of the night Eric was happy and never noticed time passing he found himself at packing his attire. He walked home a happier man with a mission to complete. He wanted at least to make one friend once he woke up in the afternoon.

* * * * * * * * *

He took his time reading and old magazine after lunch and decided to take a walk to the river trying to explore the vicinity. The cool breeze was refreshing and he found himself enjoying the walk much than he thought he would. It was almost after thirty minutes when he found a beautiful spot along the river and gave up to the temptation of taking a rest baking in the sun just killing time before he got back to his work. Eric placed his old magazine aside and gave in to the temptation of having a rest doing nothing. He took a nap and when he woke up moments later the first thing he saw was a girl out of his imagination some meters downstream. She was too beautiful to be real. Eric was forced to admit that even the girls in his imaginations were not half as beautiful as this girl was. He walked down to her noiselessly in fear of disrupting the serene aura around this angel.

After a long time staring at her Eric finally felt his traitorous voice betray his presence.

'What are you doing here all alone at such a time?' Eric heard himself say. Surprisingly he was audible and without a stammer for the first time talking to a stranger.

'I spend most of my afternoons here when am not in school. ‘She replied in such a melodious voice, ‘who the hell are you and what do you think you are doing here?'

'Am Eric and i also spend my afternoon here.' he lied.

'The river is too big you can find some other place,' her angelic said icily, ‘will just leave me alone?'

'Will you at least tell me your name? Eric asked hopefully.

'And why on earth would I do that?’ she queried her piercing gaze boring into his and he just stared into hers as if he was compelled by their magical beauty.

'I only hoped to be your friend I never meant to upset you.' Eric said.

'I have more than enough friends Mr. Eric I honestly don't even know where to take some.’ she said closing the novel she had been reading before he had interrupted her. ‘You are way too up your head find a girl of your own class.'

Eric walked away ashamed but happy he had talked to someone, but his little firefly friend had a million questions to answer that night.

As nature would have it once he reported to job that evening it rained so heavily and since there would be no fireflies he knew he was in for a long night.