BOOM

The first firework breaks the silence I've become so accustomed to over my years with Danny. I glance over at him. He looks almost pridefully up at the lights dancing through the sky. He's different now. He doesn't look caged. He's been in Columbia since September and he is absolutely loving it. He is more happy than I've seen him in years. He no longer has earlocks and no longer dresses like a Hasid, and although it's different it's not unwelcome, almost like the new year.

BOOM

A second firework breaks, this one is golden and reflects in Danny's blue eyes, giving them a different kind of luminescence. I watch as his chest rises and falls and he leans back somewhat awkwardly. Slowly I scoot closer to give him something to lean on. He looks over his shoulder at me and smiles hugely. And I smile back dopily, fighting the undeniable urge to lean forward and plant a kiss right on his lips. He turns around and snuggles a little closer, murmuring something about it being too cold.

BOOM BOOM

There are two this time, both red and fiery. I feel his warmth against my chest. The way he squirms gently against me heats me from the inside and I don't feel cold at all.

BOOM

BOOM BOOM

These are green and make Danny jump. I laugh sweetly in his ear. And he turns around.

"Don't laugh at me, Reuven," he says, nudging me with his shoulder, pausing, and nudging me with his cheek.

"You're just so cute, Danny," I reply smiling a little, thinking about him and pretending he's a cat. I laugh a little and Danny eyes me.

BOOM

This one's a silvery blue, shiny like Danny's eyes. I'm so happy for him. I am so happy he is happy.

BOOM BOOM BOOM

These ones are various colors. Lighting up the night. Illuminating our futures. I do hope, they're bright. We sit in silence, but not true silence, I've grown to hate that, this silence is loud. A deafening silence. You can feel it push against you.

"Danny," I start and he looks up at me, smiling widely, a shimmer in his eyes, like when he used to talk about Freud.

"It's a new year, a new beginning for you, and I want you to know I am so, completely, overjoyed, because you're happy, Danny. Happy new year."

Danny who was looking at me quite intently, smiles again and I smile back.

"Are you happy Reuven? Not just because I'm happy, are you happy for yourself?" he asks me, leaning in a little closer so I can hear him over the loud bangs of the finale.

"Yes, I'm happy for myself too, Danny," I reply, looking at him curiously.

"And I'm happy you're happy Reuven, this is to a new life," he says as he leans in close and kisses my cheek, just as a few fireworks boom through the night. He pulls back just a little, and stares at my lips for a little longer than normal. A few more fireworks sizzle out overhead. He lets out a long sigh and the heat of it billows out in a puff of fog. He pulls away finally and smiles sheepishly as the finale ends. I pull him close to me and he snuggles up real tight. You can feel the absence of the bangs immediately and I suppose Danny felt the need to fill it so he says, "It's freezing... wow..." he purses his lips then smiles with this sense of resignation, but not unhappily.

"Reuven?" he says, looking at me with those very blue eyes.

"Hmm?" I say nuzzling against him.

"Happy new year."