I came to this island looking for peace, to start a new life and heal from the past. Instead, I met HIM – charming, attentive, and everything I didn’t know I needed. But just as I began to believe in new beginnings, one single moment shattered everything.
Even though I had spent decades here, my living room seemed like a foreign space. I was 55 years old, and I stood staring at my open suitcase, pondering how my life had led me to this point.
‘How did we get here?’ – I asked, looking at the battered Forever and Always cup in my hand before tossing it aside.
I ran my hand across the couch. ‘Goodbye Sunday coffee and fighting over pizza.’
Memories buzzed in my head like unwanted guests I couldn’t chase away. The emptiness felt stronger in the bedroom. The other half of the bed looked at me like an accusation.
‘Don’t look at me like that,’ I muttered. ‘It’s not all my fault.’
Picking things up became a hunt for the items that still mattered. The laptop lay on the table like a beacon.
‘At least you got to keep it,’ I said, stroking it.
In it was my unfinished book I’d been working on for two years. It wasn’t finished yet, but it was mine – proof that I wasn’t completely lost yet.
And then an email came from Lana:
‘Creative retreat. Warm island. Fresh start. Wine.’
‘Of course wine,’ I laughed.
Lana always had a knack for making disasters appealing. The idea seemed reckless, but wasn’t that the point?
I looked at the flight confirmation. My inner voice kept bugging me.
What if I didn’t like it? Or if I wasn’t accepted? What if I fall into the ocean and get eaten by sharks?
But then another thought came to me.
What if I do like it?
I exhaled and closed my suitcase. ‘So much for running away.’
I wasn’t running away. I was running to something new.
The island greeted me with a warm breeze and the rhythmic sound of waves crashing against the shore. I closed my eyes for a moment and inhaled deeply, letting the salty air fill my lungs.
It was exactly what I needed.
But the peace didn’t last. As I approached the retreat site, the peace of the island changed to loud music and bursts of laughter. People, mostly in their 20s and 30s, were sprawled out on brightly coloured pouffes, holding drinks that looked more like umbrellas than liquid.
‘Well, this certainly isn’t a convent,’ I muttered under my breath.
The group by the pool laughed so loudly it startled a bird in the nearest tree. I sighed.
Creative breakthroughs, huh, Lana?
Before I could lurk in the shadows, Lana appeared, her hat tipped at a playful angle and a margarita in her hand.
‘Thea!’ – She shouted, as if we hadn’t texted just yesterday. ‘You made it!’
‘Already regretting it,’ I muttered, but pulled on a smile.
‘Oh, come on,’ she said, waving her hand. ‘There’s magic going on here! Trust me, you’re going to love it.’
‘I was hoping for something…hush,’ I said, raising an eyebrow.
‘Nonsense, you need to meet people and soak up the energy! By the way,’ she grabbed my hand, ’I have to introduce you to someone.’
Before I could object, she led me through the crowd. I felt like a tired mum at a school party, trying not to trip over my discarded flip-flops.
We stopped in front of a man who I swear looked like the cover of GQ. Tanned skin, a relaxed smile, and a white linen shirt unbuttoned just enough to be mysterious but not vulgar.
‘Thea, this is Eric,’ Lana said excitedly.
‘Nice to meet you, Thea,’ he said, his voice as soft as an ocean breeze.
‘Likewise,’ I said, hoping my nervous tension wasn’t too noticeable.
Lana glowed as if she’d just had a royal engagement. ‘Eric’s a writer, too. He dreamed of meeting you when I told him about your book.’
My cheeks flushed. ‘Oh, it’s not finished yet.’
‘It doesn’t matter,’ Eric said. ‘What you’ve put two years into it…it’s amazing! I’d love to hear about her.’
Lana smirked and stepped back. ‘You two talk. I’ll find more margaritas!’
I was mad at her. But after a few minutes, whether it was Eric’s irresistible charm or the magical sea breeze playing with me, I agreed to go for a walk.
‘Give me a minute,’ I said, surprising even myself.
In my room, I rummaged through my suitcase and pulled out the most appropriate summer dress.
Why not? If I was already being dragged, at least I’d look good.
When I came out, Eric was already waiting. ‘Ready?’
I nodded, trying to look calm, though an uncharacteristic shiver rippled restlessly in my stomach. ‘Lead the way.’
Eric showed me parts of the island that seemed untouched by the hustle and bustle of the retreat. A secluded beach with a swing hanging from a palm tree, a hidden path leading to a cliff with a spectacular view – places not found in the tourist brochures.
‘You’re good at this,’ I said, laughing.
‘At what?’ – He asked, sitting on the sand nearby.
‘At making someone forget that they’re completely out of place.’