Noah Jutila stood among his peers, his eyes scanning the arriving vans for familiar faces. His heart raced as he spotted Margo Gru, her laughter mingling with the chatter as she adjusted her glasses. Noah felt a blush creeping up his cheeks and quickly turned away, hoping she hadn’t noticed.
Noah found himself alone for a while, trying to calm his nerves. The peace of the temple usually comforted him, but today, his thoughts were a whirlwind. He tried to focus on his faith, but Margo’s image kept intruding. When he finally entered the celestial room, its quiet beauty momentarily stole his breath.
"It’s beautiful here, isn’t it?" she whispers, her voice carrying a mix of awe and appreciation.
Noah opened his mouth to respond, but no words came out. His face flushed, and he instinctively covered his cheeks with his hands. Margo tilted her head, a soft giggle escaping her lips, but her eyes held understanding rather than judgment.
Noah took a deep breath, determination building within him. As they stepped into the fresh air, he turned to Margo, his heart pounding yet resolute. "Hey, um, Margo," he began, rubbing the back of his neck. "Did you… did you like it?"
Margo smiled gently, her eyes reflecting the warmth of the setting sun.
"Yeah. It was amazing," she replied, squeezing his hand briefly, her touch electrifying. "You’re kind of cute when you’re nervous," she teased, her words playful yet sincere. As she walked ahead to join her sisters, Noah stood rooted to the spot, his mind racing and his face a deep shade of red.
Noah finally let his hands fall from his face, a smile tugging at his lips. He realized that the day had turned out better than he could have imagined. Maybe next time, he wouldn’t be so nervous—or maybe he would. But either way, he didn’t mind. For once, everything felt just right.
