The world’s colors shine brightest in the darkness of night. Extravagant building lights shroud out the stars, stripping them of their beauty. Women and men alike wear expensive brands on their wrists and necks, glinting their alleged wealth.

At 8:00, I would stand on my balcony and adore these fascinating things as they pass me by without a second thought. My robe would be wound tight around my waist as I slowly sipped at my tea. While I remained in my ordinary life, I took pleasure in watching others party through theirs. Young and free these people were. No thoughts about the next day roaming their minds. No memories replaying in their heads.

On this particular day, I stood on my balcony to find something different. Scientists have discovered rainbows visible during the late hours of dusk. They are still running experiments on how this phenomenon is happening without the presence of rain or sun. Yet many have recorded themselves driving hours from their homes to attempt to find a rainbow.

My eyes searched the sky. The sheet of black contained no hints of color other than the white lights of the city ahead of me. While taking a long, disappointed sip of my tea, I turned away. It was silly of me to expect to stumble upon such luck. I closed my sliding glass door and locked it, stopping in my tracks when I heard pleasant giggling. A couple, concealed with the hoodies of their black coats, met at the light post across the street. They embraced and greeted each other with a kiss. The first woman, with hair like gold, looked around as if nervous about their act of love being witness by hateful eyes. The second woman, with hair like fire, reassured her with a smile. I watched their fleeting conversation, their adoring gazes. They ate grapes and danced on the sidewalk as if they were attending a ball.

My eyes never left them because I was hypnotized with how joyful they were. Even when I caught a hint of a rainbow in the corner of my vision, I ignored it.

This was the most beautiful discovery I’ve found shadowed by the night.