I came to this island looking for peace, to start a new life and heal from my past.
Instead, I met HIM – charming, attentive and everything I didn’t even 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 foreign.
I was 55 years old and standing in front of an open suitcase, pondering how my life had led me to this point.
‘How did we end up here?’ – I asked, examining the battered cup labelled ‘Forever and Always’ in my hand before setting it aside.
I ran my hand across the couch. ‘Goodbye Sunday coffee and pizza arguments.’
Memories buzzed in my head like uninvited guests I couldn’t kick out.
In the bedroom, the emptiness was even more palpable. The other side of the bed looked at me like a reproach.
‘Don’t look at me like that,’ I muttered. ‘It’s not all my fault.’
Packing turned into finding the things that still mattered. My laptop lay on the table like a beacon.
‘At least you stayed,’ I said, running my hand over it.
In it was my unfinished book I’d been working on for two years. It wasn’t ready yet, but it belonged to me, proof that I wasn’t completely lost yet.
Then came a text from Lana:
‘Creative retreat. Warm island. New beginning. Wine.’
‘Of course, wine,’ I laughed.
Lana always had a talent for turning disasters into enticing propositions.
The idea sounded bold, but wasn’t that what was needed?
I looked at my flight booking confirmation. My inner voice kept me on my toes.
What if I didn’t like it? What if I don’t get accepted? What if I fall into the sea and get eaten by sharks?
But then another thought came to me.
What if I liked it after all?
I took a deep breath and closed my suitcase. ‘Well then, off to escape.’
But I wasn’t running away. I was on my way 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.
This was what I needed.
But the silence didn’t last long. When I reached the retreat site, the silence of the island was replaced by loud music and cheerful laughter.
Predominantly young men in their 20s and 30s were lounging on colourful bag chairs, with drinks in their hands that looked more like umbrellas than liquid.
‘This is definitely not a convent,’ I muttered.
The group by the pool was laughing so loudly that a bird flew off the nearest tree. I sighed.
Creative breakthroughs, right, surely, Lana?
Before I could move into the shadows, Lana appeared – with a hat worn crooked and a margarita in her hand.
‘Thea!’ – she exclaimed, as if we hadn’t corresponded just yesterday. ‘You’re here!’
‘I’m already sorry,’ I mumbled, but a smile appeared on my face.
‘Ah, come on,’ I said and waved it away.
‘There’s magic going on here! Trust me, you’ll love it.’
‘I was hoping for something…hush,’ I said, raising an eyebrow.
‘Nonsense, you should meet people and absorb the energy! By the way,’ she took my hand, ’I should introduce you to someone.’
Before I could object, she dragged me through the crowd.
I felt like an exhausted mother at a school fete, trying not to trip over the flip-flops scattered everywhere.
We stopped in front of a man who I swear could have been straight off the cover of GQ.
Tanned skin, a relaxed smile, and a white linen shirt unbuttoned just enough to look mysterious but not vulgar.
‘Thea, this is Eric,’ Lana said enthusiastically.
‘Nice to meet you, Thea,’ he said in a voice as soft as a sea breeze.
‘Likewise,’ I replied, hoping my nervousness wasn’t too noticeable.
Lana glowed as if she’d just organised a royal engagement.
‘Eric’s a writer, too. When I told him about your book, he was so excited to meet you.’
My cheeks flushed. ‘Oh, it’s not ready yet.’
‘That doesn’t matter,’ Eric said.
‘The fact that you’ve been working on it for two years…that’s impressive! I’d love to hear more.’
Lana grinned and stepped back. ‘You two talk. I’ll get more margaritas!’
I was mad at her. But after a few minutes-whether it was Eric’s irresistible charm or the magical sea wind playing with me-I agreed to walk.
‘Give me a minute,’ I said, surprising myself.
In my room, I rummaged through my suitcase and pulled out the most appropriate summer dress.
Why not? If they’re dragging me, at least I’ll look good.
When I got back, Eric was waiting. ‘Ready?’
I nodded and tried to look calm, though there was still an unusual excitement fluttering in my stomach.
‘Lead the way.’
He showed me places on the island that seemed untouched by the hustle and bustle of the retreat.
A hidden beach with a palm tree swing, a secret path leading to a cliff with a spectacular view – places not found in the tourist guides.
‘You have a talent,’ I said, laughing.
‘To what?’ – He asked, sitting down on the sand.
‘Towards making people forget that they’re actually completely out of place here.’
His smile grew wider. ‘Maybe you’re not as out of place at all as you think you are.’
As we talked, I laughed more than I had in the last few months combined.
He talked about his travels and his love of literature – interests that overlapped with mine.
His admiration for my book seemed genuine, and when he joked that he would one day hang my autograph on the wall, I felt a warmth inside me that I hadn’t felt in a long time.
But underneath that laughter, something was bothering me.
A slight unease that I couldn’t explain.
He seemed perfect – too perfect.
The next morning began with great enthusiasm.
I stretched, my mind buzzing with ideas for the next chapter of my book.
‘Today is the day,’ I whispered, grabbing my laptop.
My fingers slid across the keys.
But when the desktop appeared, my heart stopped.
The folder where my book was saved – two years of work, sleepless nights – was gone.
I searched my entire hard drive, hoping it was just hidden somewhere.
Nothing.
‘This is weird,’ I said to myself.
My laptop was still there, but my most valuable piece of work had disappeared without a trace.
‘Okay, don’t panic,’ I whispered and grabbed the edge of my desk.
‘You’ve definitely saved it somewhere else.’
But I knew I hadn’t.
I ran out of the room and headed straight for Lana.
As I walked down the corridor, my ears picked up muffled voices.
I stopped, my heart beating faster.
Slowly I walked to the door of the next room, which was ajar.
‘We just need to pitch this to the right publisher?’ – Eric’s voice said.
My blood ran cold.
It was Eric.
Through the door crack I could see Lana leaning forward, her voice as low as a conspiratorial whisper.
‘Your manuscript is remarkable,’ Lana said with a voice as sweet as syrup.
‘We’ll find a way to pass it off as mine. She’ll never know what happened.’
My stomach clenched with rage and betrayal, but even worse was the disappointment.
Eric, who’d made me laugh, listened to me, and whom I’d begun to trust, was part of this.
Before they could notice me, I turned around and hurried back to my room.
I ripped open my suitcase and started hurriedly throwing things inside.
‘This was supposed to be my new beginning,’ I whispered bitterly.
My eyes blurred, but I didn’t let the tears come.
Crying was for those who still believed in second chances-I didn’t anymore.
As I left the island, the bright sun seemed like a cruel prick.
I didn’t look back.
I didn’t need to.
Months later, the bookstore was full of people and the air hummed with voices.
I stood at the podium with a copy of my book in my hands and tried to focus on the smiling faces.
‘Thank you all for coming today,’ I said, my voice firm despite the storm of emotions inside me.
‘This book is the result of years of work and… a journey I never expected.’
The applause was warm, but it hurt me.
This book was my pride, yes, but the road to its success had been far from easy.
The betrayal still sat deep inside me.
As the autograph queue disintegrated and the last guest left, I sat down tiredly in a corner of the shop.
That’s when I noticed her – a small folded note on the table.
‘You owe me an autograph. Cafe on the corner if you have time.’
The writing was undeniably recognisable.
My heart stopped.
Eric.
I stared at the note, gripped by feelings: curiosity, anger, and something I couldn’t yet name.
For a moment, I wanted to crumple the note and walk away.
But instead I took a deep breath, grabbed my coat, and headed for the café.
I saw him at once.
‘Pretty bold to leave me a note like that,’ I said, sitting down across from him.
‘Brave or desperate?’ – he replied with a wry smile.
‘I wasn’t sure if you were coming.’
‘I wasn’t sure either,’ I admitted.
‘Thea, I need to explain things to you. What happened on the island…
At first I didn’t understand Lana’s true intentions.
She convinced me that it was all for your good.
But when I realised what she was really up to, I took the USB drive and sent it to you.’
I remained silent.
‘When Lana dragged me into this, she said you were too modest to self-publish your book,’ Eric continued.
‘She claimed you didn’t believe in your talent and needed someone to surprise you and take your work to the next level.
I thought I’d help you out.’
‘Surprise you?’ – I barked at him.
‘Are you telling me you stole my job behind my back?’
‘I didn’t think so at first.
When I realised the truth, I grabbed the USB drive and wanted to find you, but you were already gone.’
‘What I overheard wasn’t what it seemed?’
‘Exactly. Thea, when I realised the truth, I chose you.’
I let silence fall between us and waited for the excitement in me to flare up again.
But it didn’t.
Lana’s manipulations were left behind and my book was published on my terms.
‘You know, she was always jealous of you,’ Eric finally said quietly.
‘Back at university she felt eclipsed by you.
This time she saw her chance and took advantage of our trust to take what wasn’t hers.’
‘And now?’
‘She’s disappeared. Severed every bond I knew.
She couldn’t bear the consequences when I refused to support her lies.’
‘You made the right decision.
That means something.’
‘Does it mean you’ll give me a second chance?’
‘One date,’ I said, raising a finger.
‘Don’t ruin it.’
His smile grew wider.
‘Deal.’
As we left the café, I caught myself smiling.
That one date had become another. Then another.
And at some point, I fell in love again. This time, not alone.
What started with betrayal turned into a relationship based on understanding, forgiveness and – yes – love.
