This scene is from Rachel’s point of view.
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Pearce reaches into his nightstand and pulls something out. “I almost forgot. This is for you.” He hands me a small box. “An early Christmas gift.”

“The trip is my gift.” I sit up and turn the light on next to the bed.

“The trip is our honeymoon. Now open it.”

I open the box and inside is a small crystal ornament in the shape of a star. “Pearce, it’s beautiful. I love it.”

“I noticed we didn’t have any ornaments. I’ll get you some more, but I thought you might want to pick out the rest.”

“Actually, I was thinking of continuing a tradition my family does where we collect ornaments over the years. Something that reminds us of something special that happened that year. Would you be okay with that?”

“Of course. Whatever you want.”

I hold out the star. “So what does this say about this year?”

“That you’re my bright shining star?” He laughs as he kisses me. “Or the star of your class? You’re graduating with honors.”

“I think it should symbolize a wish. You know how you wish upon a star? We should each make a wish for the thing we want most in our new life together. Not something that’s a given, like love, but something that we really want but may not get. That way, when we see the star every year, we’ll be reminded to keep working toward whatever it is that we hope to have someday.”

“Are we telling each other these wishes?”

“No. So wish for whatever you want. Ready?” I hold up the star.

“We’re doing this right now? You gave me no time to think.”

“Oh. How much time do you need?”

“Never mind. I’ve got it. Go ahead.”

I dangle the star between us. “Okay, make your wish.”

I close my eyes and imagine my wish. It’s a wish that’s not likely to happen, but that’s why it’s a wish. It’s something to hope for.

My wish is for Pearce and I to have a baby. I want that more than anything. So that will be my wish every year when I take this ornament out. A wish I’ll make every year at Christmas. And maybe if I’m lucky, that wish will come true.