This time, I’m really frozen. Ayden grabs my wrist to make me sit down with him in the sand. I’m still shocked and confused so I can barely form a whole sentence in my thoughts. His tattoos turn white? They can light up? Is this some kind of trick? Did any of the others notice this? Did he really just kiss me?! Ayden gives me a moment to sort my thoughts while he releases my wrist and lets his fingers just lightly brush over my hand. With every touch, I want him to just hold me close again. Something is pushing me towards him and this distance between us doesn’t feel right. 

As he holds my hand again, his tattoos start lighting up brighter again. "You feel it too, right?" Ayden asks but I answer with a question, 

"What is this?" 

Ayden takes a deep breath, seeming to get ready to explain something complicated, "They call us Bearers of Light. The Light comes from within us and it can only become visible through special tattoos. Moreover, it only comes out on special occasions like the Day of Light," He stops to look directly into my eyes again and waits for me to keep eye contact for a bit. Then he adds, "Or if we touch someone very special to us."

I shake my head while asking, "What are you trying to say?" 

"My Light has chosen you. You make me light up. You fill this world with my Light," Ayden replies. 

"Why me?" I wonder aloud and Ayden just giggles before saying, 

"I wish I knew. All I know is that even though I've just met you, you make me feel better than anything else in this world." I feel my cheeks blush which is very visible due to the light coming from Ayden's arms. Even though he sees it, he doesn’t mention it. Instead, he repeats his question, "Do you feel it too?" 

I turn away, wondering what he means. What should I feel? The electric feeling whenever I touch him? The warmth coming from the light of his tattoos? The way I get pushed to him whenever he’s getting closer? I instinctively close my eyes, not thinking much of it at first. My heart still beats so loudly that I can hear it in my ears. However, there's something else as well now. I feel something inside of me that wasn’t this obvious before, something that lights me up inside while the sparkling feeling from holding Ayden's hand rushes through my body. It’s calming and soft but also exciting and wild. And it feels like the Light tries to come out.

I open my eyes again and nod. Ayden seems relieved, his eyes still look so bright that part of me wonders if the light also comes out through his eyes. "What does that mean?" I ask, my voice barely more than a whisper. 

"This place magically attracts Bearers of Light. There's a big community of us here and we're trying to find others across the world. You are a Bearer of Light, you just can't see it yet. You can only feel it," Ayden explains, surprising me again. His friends can all light up like that? Does he mean I am one of them? Could my arms light up like his if I had the right tattoos? 

For a short moment, I wonder if I should show him my tattoo. It’s a simple text on my left arm, “Light Me Up“. I got it as a way of expressing the feeling of constant worry, wishing for someone who, instead of just brightening up my world, lights me up so I can see everything a bit less gloomily. Back then, I didn’t think I’d ever find people who do exactly that, lighting each other up.

I look over to the others who are still sitting together. "So, is Nadja also..." I start and Ayden nods. 

"It's very likely that she's one, too. You both came here for a reason and she seems to love this place as much as we all do," he replies, looking back to the others as well.

"And this Light decides who we... love?" I ask shyly, still feeling this Light inside of me but also being overwhelmed at the same time. How can this feel so surreal and natural at the same time? 

Ayden laughs before he explains, "No, not directly. For example my parents, they are both Bearers of Light but when they met, they never lit up. They still loved each other, so they decided to ignore the Light. At their wedding, after the ceremony, they started lighting up and now, they shine brighter than most others in the community. The Light doesn't take away our ability to make decisions for ourselves. It just wants to help us find the right one. If your heart and your Light agree, you should feel a new kind of inner peace. The Light is a part of you, it’s you." I nod, trying to process all the information.