Zachary followed her out, handing her the bag of desserts. "Don''t forget these." After giving her the treats, he sat in his car with a heavy heart and drove away.

    The next evening as work ended, Mia caught Sarah. "Sarah, are you free after work?"

    "Where are we going?" Sarah asked curiously.

    Without answering, Mia pulled her toward a car waiting outside campus. Sarah felt relieved when she saw it wasn''t Zachary picking up Mia today.

    The ck Bentley headed toward the suburbs, moving further from the city center. Sarah sensed something was up, while Mia seemed unusually excited, barely containing her giggles in the car.

    When they stopped, they were at a small hill. Mia tugged Sarah along. "Sarah, you can see the sunset from here."

    She pointed toward the horizon, and Sarah looked.

    The setting sun cast a rosy glow on her face, her eyes sparkling with pink light, making her look especially gentle.

    Standing on the hilltop, though it wasn''t very high, she could see East Coast City spread out below, bathed in sunset colors.

    As the sun slowly sank and darkness crept in, the city lights suddenly flickered to life. East Coast became a glowing miniature world, with Sarah watching from above.

    Mia stood beside her, smiling proudly. "Isn''t it beautiful, Sarah?"

    Sarah nodded, smiling. "It''s gorgeous. I haven''t watched a sunset like this in ages."

    Thest time she''d seen such a beautiful sunset was on the resort ind, with Zachary by her side.

    As the final rays of light faded, leaving only gray skies, a faint moon rose in the east, climbing slowly.

    When night fell, the temperature dropped sharply. Sarah''s eyes dimmed. "Should we head back? The sunset''s over."

    Mia shook her head and led her to another spot. "Not yet. Look over there."

    BANG! BANG! BANG!

    Fireworks it up the sky, painting the darkness in brilliant hues. The light washed over Sarah''s face as ske looked up, a smile spreading across her features.

    The fireworks shattered against the ck canvas of night, creating a dazzling, dreamlike disy.

    Suddenly, she felt warmth on her shoulders as someone draped a jacket over her. The familiar scent of cedar made her heart clench.

    She turned around in a daze. Mia had disappeared, and Zachary now stood beside her. Though it had only been a few days, worry lines creased his brow, and the usual spark in his eyes had dimmed to something distant and deep.

    He wore gold-rimmed sses now, making him look more mature. His voice was slightly hoarse as he asked, "Is it beautiful?"

    Sarah fought back tears and nodded. "Yes, it is." This was his doing - he had arranged the fireworks.

    "I''m sorry," he said suddenly.

    Sarah turned back to watch the disy, her emotions in turmoil. "Sorry for what?"

    "For everything that happened before," Zachary said gravely.

    Sarah gave a slight smile as fireworks continued to explode overhead. Pretending not to hear, she said, "We had a good time together, and now it''s over. There''s nothing to be sorry for. The fireworks are beautiful."

    Zachary''s expression crumbled. "Is this really how it ends? I won''t ept that we''re over."

    "Vivian told me everything. You two grew up together. I refuse to be the one whoes between you." Sarah''s mind shed to Charlotte.

    Another brilliant burst of light illuminated Zachary''s face, now clouded with shadows. "These are prototype fireworks - not even on the market yet."

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