"Rose!" Brenan called out to her as he briskly walked along the white powdered sand of the island, unfazed by the heat of the sun.
Brenan's voice resonated across the beach, reaching Rose's ears as she sprinted towards the Eastern part of the island where the boatmen picked up passengers. Chantelle, struggling to keep up, followed close behind, gasping for air. Rose turned her head to see Brenan and Chantelle trailing her, their determination evident. Suddenly, a gust of wind shifted, carrying the scent of salty seawater, causing Rose to sneeze twice. Stopping by the shore, she realized there were no available boats to take them back to the main island. She took a moment to catch her breath, placing her hands on her waist and forehead, deep in thought about leaving the island.
Brenan reached her side, his concern etched across his face. "Are you okay, Rose?" he asked, his voice filled with genuine worry. Rose lifted her hand towards him, taking a deep breath, her eyes still glistening with tears. Recognizing her distress, Brenan retrieved his handkerchief from his pocket and gently offered it to her.
"Here," he said, his voice gentle and soothing. Rose stared at him for a moment, then slowly reached out and accepted the handkerchief from his hand.
"Thanks," she whispered, attempting a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. Brenan wasn't sure if it was the right moment to offer comfort, but he wanted to be there for her.
In that instant, Chantelle caught up to them. Rose's hands instinctively covered her face when she saw Chantelle approaching, ready to lend her support. Sensing her vulnerability, Chantelle wrapped her arms around Rose, tapping her shoulder gently in an effort to ease her burden.
"Shh... It's okay now. You can cry on my shoulder as much as you need to, but after this, no more tears, okay?" Chantelle reassured her, her voice filled with empathy. Brenan remained silent, silently witnessing their exchange. He felt a pang of sympathy for Rose.
"Perhaps it's not the right time for me to be here," he uttered to Chantelle, his voice tinged with regret. "Please take care of her." Chantelle nodded, offering a gentle smile.
"I'll make sure she's alright. You should go," she replied, understanding his unspoken need to give them space. Brenan bowed his head to Chantelle and slowly retraced his steps, walking back towards the island.
The sun's intense heat still beat down on them as the afternoon wore on. Rose and Chantelle sought solace under the shade of the Agoo tree, situated about ten meters away from the Eastern Shore. Rose had made up her mind to return to the hotel where her family was staying. She knew that their absence during lunch had likely angered her parents, as she had mentioned in the note she left behind. Exhausted and worn down, all she desired now was to lie on the comfort of her bed. Her tears had left her eyes red and swollen.
Karl had been her boyfriend for nearly a year. Discovering his infidelity was difficult to bear. Agnes, a friend who was almost like a sister to her, had helped Rose secure a scholarship at their company—a benefit reserved for employees' children. Despite the lack of familial connections to the furniture company, Agnes had been granted the scholarship. Rose vividly recalled Agnes introducing Karl to her, his charm and good looks captivating her from the start. She fell in love with him instantly, and Agnes was overjoyed when she revealed Karl as her boyfriend. Every moment spent with Karl had been the happiest time of her life. She had risked everything, including hiding the relationship from her parents, despite Karl's parents and her mother being former high school classmates. Her mother had warned her against dating or forming serious relationships while studying, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing her education. Yet, Rose broke her promise as she succumbed to the allure of Karl's presence. Perhaps her mother had been right about avoiding relationships during her studies. It had only brought her pain, taught her to keep secrets from her parents, and now she had been betrayed, just as her father had betrayed her mother.
This surge of emotion was far more devastating than learning she wasn't her father's legal family. Seeing Karl and Agnes share kisses, Agnes pleading for Rose to step aside and allow her to have Karl's love, it all pierced Rose's heart. Her thoughts were tangled and contradictory. She still loved Karl, but he had broken the sacred trust between them. Was it possible that she had overreacted and hadn't given Karl a chance to explain himself? Maybe he was telling the truth, or maybe not. This was the tumultuous nature of love—making one so vulnerable that they couldn't resist, even in the face of hurt. But amid the pain, love had also taught her resilience, showing her the truest happiness and the joy found in both loving and being loved. Through love, she had discovered inner strength and learned to value herself as an individual.
"Are you sure you don't want me to accompany you back to the hotel to explain everything to your parents?" Chantelle offered, her concern unwavering. Rose nodded, a dry smile playing on her lips.
"I'll be fine. I can explain everything when I return. It's my responsibility—I made the decision to stay here."
Standing up, Chantelle said, "Alright then. It's time for me to head back to camp. I'll let everyone know that you've gone back to your family at the hotel."
This time, Rose smiled, extending her arms to share one last embrace with Chantelle. "Thank you, Chan," she whispered, noticing the tears streaming down Chantelle's face. She held on tight, grateful for Chantelle's unwavering support during her darkest moments.
"Take care, my friend," Chantelle said, waving goodbye.
Rose remained seated under the Agoo tree, where Chantelle had left her, anxiously awaiting the arrival of the boats that would take her back to the main island. Her long, dark, curly hair, tied in a ponytail, clung to her forehead as sweat trickled down. The humidity made her body drenched in sweat, leaving her feeling uncomfortable and itchy. She noticed the sky growing darker on the western horizon, where the sea met the sky. Flashes of reddish lightning streaked from the cumulonimbus clouds, accompanied by the rolling sound of thunder.
She worried that no boats would reach the island due to the rapidly forming thunderstorm in the western part of the sea. It was crucial for her to find a way back to the hotel before the storm arrived.
Observing some of the other tourists noticing the darkening sky and returning to their camps to pack their belongings, Rose realized they didn't want to face the storm on this paradise island. Concern for her friends crept into her mind, and she attempted to catch a glimpse of them on the shore, but they were nowhere in sight. An unsettling feeling washed over her, fearing that something might go wrong if they remained as the storm approached. It was imperative for them to leave the island, whether they liked it or not, as staying would pose great dangers from the powerful winds and lightning. Rose fervently prayed for the boatmen to arrive and safely transport them to the main island.
Standing up, Rose began shuffling her feet back towards her friends' camp, but she almost lost her balance when a sudden pain shot through her temple. Her throbbing head distorted her surroundings, and with her hands on her temples, she closed her eyes. Ringing filled her ears as her knees weakened. Managing to grip the trunk of the Agoo tree, she wondered, "What is happening to me?" Perplexed, she strained to make sense of the indistinct sounds she could hear. Spinning around, searching for the source, she heard another voice, clearer and more comprehensible this time. It was accompanied by whispers mixing with the ringing in her ears.
"Go back now, Rose... your life is in danger," the voice warned. Was she truly hearing voices, or was it a product of her headache?
"Rose, listen! You must go back now! They're coming," the voice insisted. It sounded familiar, though she struggled to place it. Someone seemed to be communicating with her through her mind, instilling a sudden fear that sent an icy shiver through her body.
"Who are you? Why are you doing this to me?" she asked, searching for answers, but found only herself. The voices grew louder, becoming a chorus of men, women, children, and even the sounds of dogs and roosters from the main island. Overwhelmed, Rose covered her ears and sat down, fearing she might lose her grip on sanity. Her face flushed red, her throbbing head threatening to burst. Just when she couldn't bear it any longer, complete silence enveloped her, relieving her of her headache. Normalcy returned, and as she surveyed her surroundings, a burning sensation in her left wrist caught her attention. The pain became unbearable, and a new burn mark emerged, resembling an inverted treble clef. The stench of burnt flesh lingered in the air. Uncertain of what was happening, her eyes turned completely white. She clasped her left hand with her right, desperately attempting to alleviate the pain. She fell to her knees, witnessing a bright light emanating from the wound on her wrist, mirroring the burn pattern.
Rose felt her body levitate from the ground, immersed in the heat radiating from the bright light. She longed to scream, but something held her back. Floating about a meter above the ground, she experienced an overwhelming sense of calmness. Thoughts raced through her mind, wondering if this was what people described as death. If this was the end, she resolved to embrace it.
A blinding light burst forth from her peripheral vision, obscuring her surroundings. Everything turned as white as freshly fallen snow, and a profound sense of ecstasy enveloped her as her body floated in mid-air. Finally, she closed her eyes gently, taking a deep breath.
A few meters away from her Brenan was secretly observing her. H,,e could clearly see that something peculiar was happening to the young woman. Suddenly, Rose became lost in thought, remaining still like a statue.
"I hope she's okay," Brenan whispered to himself, filled with concern.
Initially, Brenan wanted to accompany Rose, but he didn't anticipate the scenes he had witnessed earlier. He couldn't comprehend why he felt compelled to be with her. Nor could he understand why his eyes refused to look away from Rose. After all, he was merely a tourist in the country, vacationing with his girlfriend. He had temporarily left his girlfriend with his family in a secluded part of the island. Yet, when he saw Rose, he couldn't comprehend why he felt such a strong desire to be with her.
Hailing from a prominent family in Chicago, Illinois, in America, he took a vacation to unwind from the stress caused by his dissertation. His family accompanied him, along with his girlfriend of five years, Eunice. In a week's time, they would return to Chicago.
Tonight, during their dinner at the hotel, he had planned to propose to Eunice. His parents had high expectations and fully supported him. He cherished his girlfriend deeply and didn't want to cause her any harm. However, he now found himself trapped in a state of confusion.
Brenan noticed the sky becoming covered with dark clouds. Just moments ago, the weather had been clear and scorching hot, but now the clouds were gathering and turning ominous. Faint rumbles of thunder could be heard in the distance, accompanied by a gradual drop in temperature and a strengthening gust of wind. It was evident that a powerful thunderstorm was approaching the area. Brenan felt a sense of unease in his chest, particularly when he redirected his gaze towards Rose, who was still standing there, seemingly lost in thought.
"Rose..." he whispered to himself. He wanted to go over to her and suggest leaving the area. However, he couldn't shake off thoughts about his family and girlfriend who were at the other end of the island. Deep down, he believed Rose would be fine wherever she was, especially since she was merely waiting for a boat by the shoreline.