She patiently waits. For years, she have waited and even if it would take her another year to count, she will wait.
In a dessert region, gypsies are packing up to vacate the land they have stayed for a short while. Where meaningful things happened, they always have to leave for all the resources in the place are already consumed. 
Every gypsy has this mindset on how life is. Like nomads— life is but eating, breathing, moving from one place to another to survive with no dreams or goals to set. On the other hand, here’s a young gypsy lady totally different from the rest. Her name “Dillan” was given by an Irish Priest who was by chance on his travel through the desserts on the time she was born. She keeps a diary with thin sheets made from dried animal skin where she would try to draw everything she wants to do with the life she has. 
One cold evening, she lay on the fine dessert sand staring at the billion stars, “How many stars could there be? I wish there is enough for everyone that we may all find our own directions.” In silence, she closed her eyes with her two hands having a tight grip on her diary. 
Suddenly she heard a calm voice saying, “Even if you give all of them a star, there are still billions and billions out there, nothing you can imagine. Put each of it in your heart and it will show you where you should go.”
Dillan opened her eyes and took a look at the sky once again. And then looked to the direction where she heard the voice. It was a young man, sweet as his voice keeping that curve in his lips. She got up, cleaned her back and said, “I’ve never seen you before. Are you another traveler?” 
“Indeed…” the young man answered. “You can call me Louie; I came from a bucolic valley in South Africa, instead of leading a herd of sheep every day, I have set my goals that’s why I take all the risk of traveling alone and even neglecting my father’s order for me to stay.” He added. 
“I see, it’s quite dark out there and the dessert is not very safe at night. If you have nowhere to stay for tonight, our small tents are always open. Then if you wish, you may continue your travel just as the sun rises.” Dillan advised to him. Not even waiting for the man to answer, Dillan rushed to her tent and put off the light from the oil lamp.
“What must be so different with that man…? Well, I have to get a sleep now. Anyway, he may have gone already for tomorrow.”She said to herself.
Just as the sun rises, laying on the sand, Louie, the young traveler then woke up and had a stretch. He looked around as he grabbed his large backpack and so much ready to go when he suddenly remembered the girl he saw that cold night. “I don’t even know her name, oh; I guess I’ll stay for a little while.” He thought as he unpacked his things.
So much sleep, Dillan got out of her tent and had some water to drink. As she was having a big gulp, she was again startled with the same voice saying, “Good morning, I wish I could stay for a little while. I am not rushing with my travel anyways. Maybe I could learn much here.”
Dillan looked at him and smiled, “No problem. Anyway, my name is Dillan. You could stay here for as long as you want. Everyone here is nice and so used to travelers… but for just a few weeks, we are leaving this place again and have to find another. See, we would nearly consume everything.” She added. 
Louie just nodded, if that’s the case, when the time has come for the gypsies to leave, Louie has to go his own directions too, thinking that it might be the end of a friendship that is yet starting.
As days went by, they have talked about so many things and felt as if they grew up together. And there, Louie had known that Dillan has never had her family.
Dillan’s father was also a traveler who happened to fall in love with her mom who is a gypsy. They loved each other so much. But just like almost every gypsy’s story, they had to separate ways. As her mother had to go with the other gypsies to find another place in the desert, her father then had to continue his travel and go to where he is suppose to go in the first place.
Unfortunately, the traveler did not know that the gypsy woman was carrying a baby in her womb when he left her.
The gypsies had gone from here to there and to so many places until on their latest stop, they met an Irish Priest. This Priest had shared so many things to Dillan’s mom. About how life is beyond the dessert’s sand and told her that every traveler has their own dreams that’s why they could never stay even if they have found love in the dessert. 
As the Priest continued talking, the pregnant gypsy suddenly complained of so much pain. For so long, she was ready to give birth. The delivery had not gone so smooth, and the sad part, the woman died after she has delivered a beautiful baby girl.
After that, the Priest carried the new-born. “This poor, innocent child had lost almost everything yet she still has nothing.” He said. “But you will be happy, child, everyone shall call your name Dillan which means faithfulness and loyalty. Someday, you will never fail to have you own family.” These were the last words of the priest who then left to travel in the vast dessert.
“Well that was my life!” Dillan exclaimed,”Whenever I hear my name, I just feel so good and at the same time, worried, that someday I  might come across the man whom I’ll love and suddenly lose him,.. Just like how my mother lost my father.” She added.
Through-out Dillan’s life, she had met a lot of travelers on the places they have shortly stayed. But none of them did she ever take seriously because of the worry and fear inside her. She is always scared to be heart-broken when she already knows in the first place that they will all leave anyways.
But this time, she feels differently towards Louie. And on the other hand, Louie is starting to love the gypsy lady.
One fine morning, Dillan felt so excited to see Louie after she woke up from a beautiful dream. She tied her long black hair and quickly ran out of her tent. But on her excitement, she was suddenly stopped. So shocked when she saw everyone packing up their things as Louie was slowly walking towards her as if his eyes were saying something.
The moment Louie has come in front of her, Dillan hugged him so tight and said, “I didn’t even notice it had been that long since then, are you leaving?” Still hoping for Louie to say that he’ll stay when he said, “I’m so sad that I have to leave. I hope you understand the very reason why I travel. And when I’ve found the answer to my questions, I’ll come back for you.”
Dillan just smiled but with teary eyes she said, “This time I will be happy, we gypsies do nothing but to wait. Many travelers have told me that they will surely come back for me just until they have achieved their goals. But I understand that your travel is too long that you come across many other women in the dessert. For years, I have waited whether you come back for me or not you are free of guilt.I understand I am meant for this but just as how my name goes.. Faithfulness and loyalty shall be kept in my heart. And I’ll just keep on waiting no matter how long it would take you. Remember the 1st thing you told me? You said there are a billion stars up there; I wish you could keep one in your heart. So that when you are done in your search, you may find your directions back to me.”