CHAPTER 2 THE ARRIVAL

CHAPTER 2

THE ARRIVAL

I opened my eyes and gasped for air as if someone was choking me the entire time I was sleeping. I feel my own heart beating fast inside my chest as I tried to calm my senses. I pulled myself up from the bed and found myself lying on top of my old mattress with my favourite unicorn bed sheet that I have always loved when I was in high school. I looked around the entire room and realized that I was inside my mom’s house. I reached my mom’s house last night?

Wait, what about the car accident?

I pulled my arms up and peeled the blanket off my legs and found no stain of wounds all over me. I rushed to my dresser to check myself, I didn’t have any wound from the car accident last night. I was absolutely fine and nothing hurt in every corner of my body. My soul had left my body and I know I saw my own self being carried by the medics. I know I died last night.

My brows knitting in the middle of my forehead and was utterly speechless with what was happening to me because I know I was involved in a totally freaky car accident last night. I was thrown out from my car when another speeding vehicle hit me from behind. I saw a family of four unconscious and I saw the driver of that truck being pulled out from the driver’s seat. I know I stepped so hard on my brake trying to save my own life after I caught Charles cheating on me.

Charles.

I grabbed my phone and found one message from Charles.

Charles: Baby please talk to me. Let’s not end it yet, please.

I ignored his message that he sent me an hour ago and left him on read. I realized that it was still nine in the morning of the 15^th of July 2020. It was just a day after I broke up with him and I still don’t understand how I got home last night. What about the car accident?

I sat on my bed and felt weirded out of what just happened to me because it was a dream.

The car accident was a dream but it felt so real.

I rushed out of my bedroom and looked for my mom to where I found her in the kitchen. I know she’s cooking my favourite meal because every time I come home, she always cooks my favourites. I approached her as I watch her cook until she notices me.

“Oh, you’re finally awake.” She smiles.

And it was really my mom. “Mom.” I called out seriously.

She looks back at me, “Yes Merry? Why do you look at me like that?”

“Do you see me?” I asked.

Her brows creasing, “What kind of question is that? Of course I see you.”

“Do you really see me?”

“Are you on drugs?”

“No!” I answered right away.

“Then tell me why wouldn’t I see you?” She placed the pancakes over the plates and holds my hand as she smiles at me, “Come and join me for breakfast.”

We walk towards the table and settled on our seats. I stare at my mom intently who is eating right across me while she stares at me reluctantly. “America, why in actual hell do you look at me like that?”

“And you can hear my voice.”

She sighs, “What is going on with you? Are you sick? If it’s drugs, you better freaking stop it lady.”

“Mom, no. I’m not taking any drugs.” I sigh too. “I just… I had the weirdest dream and… it felt so real.”

She looks at me reluctantly, “Some dreams are like that.”

“But it’s not the usual dream…. I… I saw myself… I felt like my soul left my body… I was in a car accident and I… saw myself mom. I saw myself almost lifeless as if I was already a soul. I knew that was what happened to me…..” I trailed.

Mom holds my hand, “Don’t you think you were just thinking too much because of what happened to to you and Charles?” She asks me. “Maybe your body was just completely tired and you’ve had a lot of things going on in your life with work and personal stuff.”

I sigh again and wondered maybe that mom might be right. Maybe that could be the reason why I had such a weird dream last night. “How did I come home last night?”

“Well, you were knocking at my door past 3AM and crying the entire night because of Charles. I didn’t know you were drunk last night that you didn’t remember how you came home. You didn’t smell like alcohol.” She answers as a matter-of-factly.

I breathe out heavily as I stare at my plate feeling more confused with what really happened to me last night or if my dream was real at all. “Why are you asking me so weird questions early in the morning?”

I pulled my head up and stare back at my mom, “Nothing.” I responded. “I just… I just didn’t remember how I came here the moment I woke up in my old room.” I answered her honestly.

“Look, I’m sorry about what happened to you and Charles, honey.” Mom cooed.

I shake my head, “I want to say I’m fine but I am actually not and…. I don’t really want to talk about Charles because it only reminded me of how he cheated on me, mom.”

She nods, “It’s not your fault why he cheated. Don’t think less of yourself because of only one man, okay?” She comforted me.

I answer a nod with a weak smile.

“Why don’t you take a few days off? To get things out of your head. You need it.”

“You think so?”

Mom smiles, “I know so. I know you’re a strong willed woman America and I know you’re stronger than this but sometimes you have to find yourself somewhere else where you can heal your wounds.”

I pulled my chair closer to my mom and hugged her as she wraps her arms around me. I tried my best not to cry, “I’ve never felt so betrayed mom.” I try to stop myself from crying. “I never thought Charles could do this to me. I never thought he’ll cheat on me.”

She rubs her hand over my spine, “Honey, sometimes in life things happen for reason especially when you’ve been completely blinded by everything. I guess life is already telling you that the person who you are investing so much time with is not really worth your time at all.”

I pulled my head to face my mom, “Do you think I can get over this mom?”

“Of course, Merry. You don’t know how strong you are.” She kisses my forehead.

“Thanks mom.” I hug her tighter.

Later that afternoon, I called the office and told my boss that I will be gone for an indefinite leave because I was dealing with something personal. My boss, kind as usual, allowed me to be away for as long as I want if it will be helpful for me to grow as a human. I told him that he can still send me a few mails if he needed to my help and he was happy to hear it.

I opened my G***l account since I noticed one new message that I received hours ago. The message came from an account called letusallhealunexpectedly@g***l.com and has sent me a message around 3:10AM. I paused when I stared at the time when the message was delivered, it was the same time when the accident happened in my dream. I shake my head sideways and tried to dismiss that weird dream out of my head because it will only give me the creeps. I clicked on the message.

From: letusallhealunexpectedly@g***l.com

To: americapingries@g***l.com

Subject: Island of LUAHU

Good day Miss Pingries!

Are you looking for a place to have a vacation far away from the city where you can get your mind off of things? Are you looking for a place where you can physically, emotionally and soulfully heal? We have such a wonderful news for you! Our little island called LUAHU wants to cordially invite you to check our pristine beaches and fine white sand where we assure you that your stay will be out-of-this-worldly relaxing while at the same time you’re healing. If interested, please check the file attached below. Fill up the form and send it back to us. Kindly check the map guide attached which includes how to get to the Island of LUAHU.

We would love to have you here! See you soon!

Best Regards,

Mr. L

“LUAHU.” I say the name of the island.

I went on G****e and started typing the name of the island on the search bar and as soon as it showed me a few searches, I checked on their site and was stunned by the beautiful beach that they have. Okay, so they’re legit. I clicked through a few photos and was instantly hooked with the island. This was the perfect time for me to escape from my problems and just head to somewhere far that no one knows me.

I filled up the form and sent it back.

I reserved a single room where I’ll be staying for two weeks and was unexpectedly excited for this solo trip that I never planned in the first place. I have never been on a vacation by myself and since this was the first, I wanted to make it more memorable. I wanted to heal from this pain so I can find some courage to forgive Charles and Nicole. I wanted to heal so I can free myself from this pain.

When I got their confirmation message hours after, I began to pack my things and didn’t want to over-pack since I am only staying there for two weeks. I grabbed a few dresses and bikinis which will give me lustrous sun tan that I can post on my social media later. By dinner, I told my mom about LUAHU and she wished me the best of luck to find myself before I come back home.

The next day, I followed their step by step guide on how to get to the island. It felt like I was on a scavenger hunt, a hunt for my peace of mind and healing. I went to the port by taxi and got on the boat heading to the Island of MAUI which was two hours from North Carolina. I fell asleep the entire ride and when I reached the Island of MAUI it was already ten in the morning. I asked the people who were working on the port if they had tickets to the island of LUAHU and thankfully there was only one boat heading to the small island. I bought the ticket and got on the boat where the boatman welcomed me with such a happy smile. I noticed that he instantly started the small boat even if there weren’t no other passengers getting on which was a bit suspicious.

“Um, excuse me.” I called out to him.

“Yes ma’am?” He asks with a southern accent.

“Aren’t we going to wait for the other passengers?” I asked.

“You’re the only one passenger for this trip ma’am. America Pingries right?” He mentions my complete name which was shocking but then he might have been oriented by Mr. L about me.

I nod, “Yeah.”

He smiles at me happily, “You’ll love the Island of LUAHU ma’am.”

I smile back, “I hope so.”

The boat ride lasted for thirty minutes and as soon as we arrived the small port of LUAHU, my eyes were then surprised by the most gorgeous blue waters of their beach. It was breath-taking to see such a beautiful blue hues of waters and as it gets shallower, it becomes a darker shade little by little. I changed to my slipper and slipped my socks off my feet as I kept them inside my back while carrying my sneakers. The boatman helped me out of the boat and as soon as my feet hit the warm waters, it felt perfectly refreshing and exciting that I will be staying for this island for two weeks long.