I came to the island searching for peace, a fresh start to heal from my past. Instead, I found HIM\u2014charming, attentive, and everything I didn\u2019t know I needed. But just when I started to believe in new beginnings, a single moment shattered it all.<\/p>\n
Even though I\u2019d spent decades there, my living room felt like a stranger\u2019s space. At 55, I stared at the open suitcase, wondering how my life had come to this.
\n\u201cHow did we get here?\u201d I asked the chipped \u201cForever & Always\u201d cup in my hand before tossing it aside.<\/p>\n
For illustration purposes only |<\/p>\n
I ran my hand along the couch. \u201cGoodbye to Sunday coffee and pizza fights.\u201d<\/p>\n
Memories buzzed in my mind, unwelcome guests I couldn\u2019t evict. In the bedroom, the emptiness hit harder. The other side of the bed stared back at me like an accusation.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t look at me like that,\u201d I muttered. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t all my fault.\u201d<\/p>\n
Packing became a scavenger hunt for things that still mattered. The laptop sat on my desk like a beacon.
\n\u201cAt least you stuck around,\u201d I said, patting it.<\/p>\n
For illustration purposes only |<\/p>\n
After two years of work, my novel was inside. It wasn\u2019t finished, but it was mine\u2014proof I wasn\u2019t entirely lost.<\/p>\n
Then, Lana\u2019s email came:<\/p>\n
\u201cCreative retreat. Warm island. Fresh start. Wine.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course, wine,\u201d I laughed.<\/p>\n
Lana had always been good at making disasters sound appealing. The idea felt reckless, but wasn\u2019t that the point?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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